Technical Field
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The present invention relates to an internet telephone network system. The internet
telephone network system carries out communication between the communication
devices such as telephone sets. Each telephone set is connected to a telephone
equipment adapter. The telephone equipment adapter is connected to the IP network
and the PSTN (public switched telephone network) line. The internet telephone
network system of the present invention allows the telephone sets to communicate to
one another via the IP network or the PSTN line. In addition to that, the present
invention relates to an internet telephone network system that carries out
communication between the telephone sets protected by the firewall. The internet
telephone network system of the present invention allows the telephone sets to
communicate to one another beyond the firewall by setting a relay server in an
environment not protected by the firewall. The relay server mediates communication
between the telephone sets.
Background Art
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The internet telephone is being used nowadays instead of the conventional telephone
that utilizes the PSTN line. The internet telephone works by transmitting and
receiving voice data as internet protocol (hereinafter abbreviated to as IP) packet on the
internet or an intranet. This technique is known as Voice over Internet Protocol
(hereinafter abbreviated to as VoIP).
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A gateway device placed in between the telephone set and the route on the network
is generally adapted as a device to implement this internet telephone. Refer to "Nikkei
Communication", the 1999/02/01 issue, and pages 126-133 for the information related
to gateway devices. There are a wide variety of gateway devices including a large-scale
gateway device that supports a lot of telephone lines, and a small-scale gateway
device such as a simple telephone adapter for connecting the conventional telephone set
to the network. The drawing of Fig. 44 shows an example of the conventional internet
telephone adapter. For "VolaLink-TA" of NTT Corp., refer to
http://vocalink.ssi.isp.ntt.co.jp/. For "Solphone" of Soliton Systems Corp., refer to
http://www.soliton.co.jp/ and the brochure on the Solphone product. The internet
telephone adapter comprises the following units: a
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500; a
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 600; an
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000; a
telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300; and a
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100. One end of the internet
telephone adapter is connected to a telephone set 10 and the other end is connected to
the IP network.
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Now, the operation is described.
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Voice data spoken by the user are transmitted from the telephone set 10 to the
telephone equipment adapter as analog signals. The
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 600 converts these analog
signals to the digital signals. The digital signals are converted to the coded voice data
by the IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000. The
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 processes the coded voice data as
voice data packet. The voice data packet is transmitted to the IP network. The voice
of talking user is transmitted to the other telephone set accordingly.
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On the other hand, the voice data spoken by the talking user is being transmitted
from the IP network as a voice data packet. The IP network communication
processing unit 5000 receives the voice packet data, analyses it, extracts the voice code
portions from it, and decodes them to the voice data. Further, the
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 converts the digital signal to
an analog signal. The analog signal is transmitted to the user's telephone set 10. The
voice of talking user is heard at the telephone set 10 accordingly.
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Also, the telephone set 10 inputs the telephone number of the call destination
telephone set. The inputted telephone number is converted to IP address. This is
how the call destination telephone set is identified on the IP network. For instance, an
information obtained by mapping of the telephone number and the IP address is
previously stored in the telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300. The
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 receives the telephone number
inputted from the telephone set. The telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit
300 obtains an IP address based on the inputted telephone number by mapping.
Accordingly, the communication destination telephone adapter is directly specified and
accessed on the IP network.
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The telephone set is directly connected to the PSTN line. The telephone set can be
used in the usual manner. However, the telephone equipment adapter is connected to
the IP network, and it is not connected to the PSTN line. This is the reason why the
internet telephone cannot be used while the telephone set is connected to the telephone
equipment adapter. To name the problem No. 1 of the conventional internet telephone
adapter, while the telephone set is connected to the telephone equipment adapter, the
user cannot make a telephone call via the PSTN line even by switching the connection
from the IP network to the PSTN line.
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to make a telephone call by
user either via the IP network side or via the PSTN line side while the signal line of the
telephone set remains connected to the telephone equipment adapter.
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To name the problem No. 2 of the conventional internet telephone adapter, the IP
address of communication destination telephone adapter must be registered beforehand
in order to make a call using the internet telephone via the IP network. This manual
inputting process done by the user is time-consuming.
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to discard such manual
process of looking up the IP address of destination telephone equipment adapter and
setting it to the telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit of the telephone
equipment adapter.
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To name the problem No. 3 of the conventional internet telephone adapter, a tele-conference
that can verify and manage the participants is not possible via the IP
network. Incidentally, the participants of the tele-conference must involve more than
three individuals each carrying a telephone set and a telephone equipment adapter that is
connected to it.
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to perform the tele-conference
via the IP network, among more than three individuals each carrying a
telephone set and a telephone equipment adapter connected to it, where the participants
of tele-conference is verified and managed.
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To name the problem No. 4 of the conventional internet telephone adapter, the
requirement for an additional I/O device has inevitably increased the implementation
cost of the internet telephone adapter. The additional I/O device specializes in the
setup of configuration data for use in the maintenance operation, which needs to be
incorporated to the adapter.
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The present invention aims to reduce the cost incurred in attaching the I/O device
specialized in setting up the configuration data. The I/O device is used for the
maintenance operation. The configuration data is set from the general-purpose
personal computer and existing telephone set connected to the telephone equipment
adapter.
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To name the problem No. 5 of the conventional internet telephone adapter, it is
difficult to secure the real-time property of the voice data communication processing.
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to improve on the real-time
property of the voice data communication processing.
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To name the problem No. 6 of the conventional internet telephone adapter, the
arbitrary UDP port cannot be used in the voice data communication processing via the
firewall.
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to carry out the voice data
communication processing beyond the firewall by specifying several specialized UDP
ports beforehand. The selected UDP port is used for the communication processing.
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to carry out the voice data
communication processing beyond the firewall by scanning the UDP port of the
communication destination telephone equipment adapter and finding the usable UDP
port.
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to carry out the voice data
communication processing beyond the firewall by scanning the HTTP port of the
communication destination telephone equipment adapter and finding the usable HTTP
port.
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To name the problem No. 7 of the conventional internet telephone adapter, inclusion
of various types of protocol headers in the voice data packets tends to cause an increase
in the amount of network traffic.
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to decrease in the amount
of network traffic by using possibly the smaller various types of protocol headers in the
voice data packets.
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To name the problem No. 8 of the conventional internet telephone adapter, the stable
communication quality cannot be maintained when the IP network traffic condition is
unstable.
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to carry out the voice data
packet transmission processing by responding to a monitored network traffic condition
and by referring to a past record of the averaged network traffic condition.
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To name the problem No. 9 of the conventional internet telephone adapter, the voice
data cannot pass through the firewall when it is situated in between the adapter residing
network and the outside network. The setup of firewall needs be modified to allow the
voice data to pass through it. However, most firewall does not allow the request from
the user to modify its setup because the firewall possesses its own management
measures.
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The internet telephone network system of the present invention attempts to solve
these problems. The internet telephone can be used without having to modify the
setup of the firewall by using HTTP port. The HTTP port is most commonly being
used for the data transmission and reception, even if the firewall is situated in between
the adapter residing network and the outside network.
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To name the problem No. 10 of the conventional internet telephone adapter, the
telephone call cannot be made by the telephone set while connected to the telephone
adapter via the PSTN line. This is because the telephone call cannot be made via the
communication_device_managing_unit such as PBX and button telephone set. The
same can be said when the user is using internet telephone via the IP network or not
using the internet telephone via the IP network. The conventional telephone call from
the telephone set can be made by directly connecting to the PSTN line via the
communication_device_managing_unit such as PBX and button-telephone set
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to make telephone call via
the IP network or via the PSTN line while the signal line from the telephone set remains
connected via the PBX or button telephone set.
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To name the problem No. 11 of the conventional internet telephone adapter, the
number display function cannot be used at the telephone set in none of the following
cases. The case in which the internet telephones is being used via the IP network or
cannot be used via the IP network. And the case in which the PSTN line are used,
having contracted for the number display function.
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The preferred embodiment of the present invention aims to use the number display
function when making a telephone call via the IP network or the PSTN line, by using
the telephone set contracted for the number display function connected to the telephone
equipment adapter of the present invention.
Disclosure of the Invention
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According to one aspect of the present invention, an internet telephone network
system using a digital communication line for communicating digital data and an analog
communication line for communicating analog data, the internet telephone network
system comprises a telephone equipment adapter for inputting an information, selecting
a route from the digital communication line and the analog communication line, and
outputting the information to the route selected.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone
network system comprises the digital communication line which is IP (internet protocol)
network, the analog communication line which is PSTN (Public Switched Telephone
Network) line, and the information which is at least a message information, the
telephone equipment adapter which is connected to a telephone equipment which
outputs at least the message information. The internet telephone network system of
the present invention comprises a PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit for inputting the
message information outputted from the telephone equipment, an
IP_network_communication_processing_unit for executing at least one of transmission
and reception of the message information via the IP network, a designation identifying
unit for generating a route selecting information to select the route from the IP network
and the PSTN line, and a line_connection_switching_unit for inputting the route
selecting information, and outputting the message information inputted from the
PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit, to the one of the IP network and the PSTN line
based on the route selecting information.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the telephone equipment which outputs the message information
including an identification information for identifying a destination telephone
equipment of the message information receiving side, the
PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit which inputs the identification information, the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit which transmits the message information
to the IP network by specifying an address information for identifying the destination
telephone equipment of the message information receiving side, the telephone
equipment adapter which includes an address translation table for storing the address
information and the identification information by mapping them, and an IP address
translation unit for translating the identification information to the address information
based on the address translation table, and includes the designation identifying unit
which generates the route selecting information using the address information if the
identification information is successfully translated to the address information at the IP
address translation unit, and generates the route selecting information using the
identification information if unable to translate the identification information to the
address information at the address translation unit, and outputs the route selecting
information generated to the line_connection_switching_unit.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the designation identifying unit which includes an
IP_address_learning_unit for deciding that the destination telephone equipment of the
message information receiving side can receive the message information via the IP
network if the address translation unit cannot translate the identification information to
the address information, and updating the address translation table based on the decided
result.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit which transmits the address
information obtained by mapping of the identification information of the telephone
equipment of the message information transmitting side to the destination telephone
equipment of the message information receiving side.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the message information which is a digital voice data for performing
at least one of transmission process and reception process via the IP network by the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit, the message information which is output
from the telephone equipment and is input by the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit is
an analog voice data, and the telephone equipment which can recognize the analog
voice data, and the telephone equipment adapter which is including a
digital/analog_converting_unit for converting the digital voice data received via the IP
network to the analog voice data recognizable by the telephone equipment; and an
analog/digital_converting_unit for converting the message information which is the
analog voice data output from the telephone equipment and input by the
PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit to a digital voice data for transmitting via the IP
network.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system has a plurality of telephone equipment connected by the telephone equipment
adapter for transmitting and receiving the message information via the IP network, and
comprises the telephone equipment adapter which is connected to at least more than two
telephone equipment among a plurality of telephone equipment including a
message_information_mixing_unit for mixing the message information received from
the plurality of telephone equipment via the IP network.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises at least one of the telephone equipment adapters which is connected
to a plurality of telephone equipment including: a permission_data_storing_unit for
previously storing a permission data used to confirm that the message information is
permitted for transmission and reception between the plurality of telephone equipment;
and a simultaneous_call_managing_unit for receiving a communication request before
receiving the message information from the plurality of telephone equipment via the IP
network, for referring to the permission data stored in the permission_data_storing_unit
based on the communication request, and for confirming that the message information is
permitted for transmission and reception between the plurality of telephone equipment.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the permission data stored in the permission_data_storing_unit which
is at least one of a telephone equipment identification number for identifying the
telephone equipment, a simultaneous call identification number for identifying a
simultaneous communication among the plurality of telephone equipment transmitting
and receiving message information, and a password information for participating to the
simultaneous communication.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which inputs a
control information for controlling the telephone equipment adapter as the message
information via the IP network. The telephone equipment adapter includes; a
control_information_storing_unit for storing the control information for controlling the
telephone equipment-adapter; and an IP_network_data_reading/writing unit for
updating the control information stored in the control_information_storing_unit in
accordance to the control information input from the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit which inputs a control
information for controlling the telephone equipment adapter as the message information
from either one of the telephone equipment and the PSTN line. The telephone
equipment adapter includes: a control_information_storing_unit for storing the control
information for controlling the telephone equipment adapter; and a
telephone_input_data_writing_unit for updating the control information stored in the
control_information_storing_unit in accordance to the control information input from
either one of the telephone equipment and the PSTN line.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, rhe internet telephone network
system comprises the message information for performing at least either one of
transmission process and reception process by the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit which is a packet information, and the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
UDP_communication_processing_unit for performing a User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
communication process to the packet information.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system has a firewall for preventing an illegal access to the telephone equipment adapter
on the IP network, comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which
includes a UDP_port_usage_managing_unit for previously storing a fixed UDP port
number that can transmit the message information to the destination telephone
equipment adapter beyond the firewall, and the UDP_communication_processing_unit
which transmits the message information to the destination telephone equipment adapter
beyond the firewall by using the UDP port number previously stored in the
UDP_port_usage_managing_unit.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
UDP_port_communication_confirming_unit for confirming a UDP port number that
can transmit the message information to the destination telephone equipment adapter
beyond the firewall, and the UDP_communication_processing_unit which transmits the
message information to the destination telephone equipment adapter beyond the firewall,
by using the UDP port number confirmed by the
UDP_port_communication_confirming_unit.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
RTP_communication_processing_unit for performing a Real-time Transport Protocol
(RTP) communication process to the packet information.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the message information for performing at least either one of
transmission process and reception process by the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit is a packet information, and comprises the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
TCP_communication_processing_unit for performing a Transmission Control Protocol
(TCP) communication process to the packet information.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes an
HTTP_communication_processing_unit
for performing an Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) communication process to the
packet information.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system has a firewall for preventing an illegal access to the telephone equipment adapter
on the IP network, comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which
includes a HTTP_port_communication_confirming_unit for confirming an HTTP port
number that can transmit the message information to a destination telephone equipment
adapter of message information receiving side beyond a firewall which is prepared for
the destination telephone equipment adapter, the
HTTP_port_communication_confirming_unit which transmits the message information
to the destination telephone equipment adapter beyond the firewall by using the HTTP
port number confirmed by the HTTP_port_communication_confirming_unit.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
transmission buffer unit having a transmission buffer for inputting a digital voice data
which is a digitalized message information, and for temporarily storing the digital voice
data input, for generating the packet information by extracting a certain digital voice
data from the transmission buffer.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the transmission buffer which has a pre-determined buffer size, and
the buffer size is changeable.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the packet information generated by the transmission buffer unit
which includes a header unit for storing an address information of the digital voice data
receiving destination, and which includes a data unit for storing the digital voice data,
comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
voice_data_packet_encoding_unit for inputting the packet information from the
transmission buffer unit, and compressing at least one of an information stored in the
data unit of the packet information and an information stored in the header unit of the
packet information.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
voice_data_packet_decoding_unit for receiving the packet information including the
compressed information transmitted from the destination telephone equipment adapter,
decoding the compressed packet information, and extracting and analyzing the header
unit of the decoded packet information.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
receiving buffer unit which has a receiving buffer for inputting the packet information
decoded by the voice_data_packet_decoding_unit, and for temporarily storing the
decoded packet information input, and which outputs the decoded packet information at
a continuous timing from the receiving buffer.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the receiving buffer which has a pre-determined buffer size and the
pre-determined buffer size is changeable.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
redundant_packet_issuing_unit for replicating the packet information generated by the
transmission buffer unit.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
packet_generation_filtering_unit for deleting the packet information output from the
transmission buffer unit to the voice_data_packet_encoding_unit in order to delete the
number of packet information to be transmitted to the destination telephone equipment
adapter.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
network_traffic_monitoring_unit for monitoring a traffic condition of the packet
information received by the IP_network_communication_processing_unit, and
instructing the change in the receiving buffer size to the receiving buffer unit based on
the monitored result.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the network_traffic_monitoring_unit which instructs to the
redundant_packet_issuing_unit for the number of replicating packet information based
on the monitored result.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the network_traffic_monitoring_unit which instructs to the
packet_generation_filtering_unit regarding the condition for deleting the packet
information based on the monitored result.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which includes a
network_traffic_statistical_data_managing_unit for calculating a statistics of the traffic
condition by obtaining the monitored result monitored at the
network_traffic_monitoring_unit, and for notifying a statistical result to the
network_traffic_monitoring_unit.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system further comprises a relay server prepared on the IP network, for managing
telephone equipment adapters on the IP network, for receiving the message information
transmitted from a telephone equipment adapter to an another telephone equipment
adapter transmitted in accordance to a pre-determined communication protocol access
in place of the another telephone equipment adapter, for storing the message
information received, and for reading the message information stored by using the same
access as the pre-determined communication protocol access at the telephone equipment
adapter.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises an access following the procedure of pre-determined communication
protocol which is an HTTP access in accordance to the hyper text transfer protocol
(HTTP) communication protocol.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises a message information received at the relay server which is is a
packet information having a header unit for storing an address information of the
message information receiving side, and a data unit for storing the message information,
the relay server which includes a TCP_communication_processing_unit for performing
a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) communication process to the packet
information received, an HTTP_communication_processing_unit for performing an
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) communication process to the packet information
received, a voice_data_packet_encoding_unit for compressing at least one of an
information stored in the data unit and an information stored in the header unit of the
packet information, a voice_data_packet_decoding_unit for receiving a packet
information having the compressed information as the packet information, for decoding
the compressed information of the packet information, and extracting and analyzing the
header unit from the decoded packet information, a voice_data_buffering_unit for
temporarily storing the packet information decoded by the
voice_data_packet_decoding_unit, and extracting the stored and decoded packet
information if received HTTP access for reading the stored and decoded packet
information, and outputting it to the voice_data_packet_encoding_unit, and a
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit for managing the condition of
telephone equipment adapters managed by the relay server, for receiving an inquiry
information inquiring the condition of another telephone equipment adapter from
telephone equipment adapter, for confirming the condition of the another telephone
equipment adapter based on the inquiry information, and for notifying the confirmed
result to the telephone equipment adapter.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system of comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit of the telephone
equipment adapter managed by the relay server which includes an
HTTP_telephone_call_unit for transmitting the packet information to the relay server by
using HTTP access when the destination telephone equipment adapter of the packet
information receiving side is protected by the firewall.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit of the telephone
equipment adapter managed by the relay server which includes an HTTP polling unit
for transmitting to the relay server an inquiry information managed by the
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit of the relay server to inquire
condition of the destination telephone equipment adapter where the packet information
is transmitted to by using the HTTP access polling method.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit of the telephone
equipment adapter managed by the relay server which includes a
telephone_call_communication_unit for notifying a fact of transmitting the packet
information to the destination telephone-equipment adapter where the packet
information is transmitted to, before transmitting the packet information via the IP
network by using at least one of an electronic mail and an instant message.
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According to another aspect of the present invention,the internet telephone network
system comprises the PSTN_line_signal_communication_processing_unit of the
telephone equipment adapter managed by the relay server which notifies a fact of
transmitting the packet information to the destination telephone equipment adapter
where the packet information is transmitted to, before transmitting the packet
information via the PSTN line.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the relay server which includes an HTTP_connection_changing_unit
for receiving the packet information transmitted from a telephone equipment adapter to
an another telephone equipment adapter, for performing connection negotiation of
connecting the telephone equipment adapter and the another telephone equipment
adapter, and controlling for the transmission and reception of the packet information by
using HTTP between the telephone equipment adapter and the another telephone
equipment adapter after the connection is established.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the header unit of the packet information which includes a port
number and an address information of the transmission destination of the packet
information, the relay server includes a TCP/IP_packet_header_alteration_unit for
receiving the packet information transmitted from a telephone equipment adapter to an
another telephone equipment adapter, for performing connection negotiation process of
connecting the telephone equipment adapter and the another telephone equipment
adapter, and for converting a port number and an address information of the header unit
of the packet information of the transmission destination to a port number and an
address information of the telephone equipment adapter receiving the packet
information last.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the internet telephone network system which further connects at least
two relay servers, and the internet telephone network system further comprising an
HTTP_relay_server_managing_server including: an
HTTP_relay_server_load_monitoring_unit for monitoring a process load condition of
the relay server connected; and an HTTP_relay_server_assigning_unit for selecting a
relay server responding to the monitored load condition by the
HTTP_relay_server_load_monitoring_unit.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit which transmits the
message information to the IP network by assigning an identifier name that identifies a
destination of transmitting the message information, the address translation table stores
the identifier name and the identification information by mapping them, the address
translation unit translates the identification information to the identifier name by using
the address translation table, and the telephone equipment adapter which includes an
IP_address_information_message_processing_unit for outputting the message
information to the IP network by using a communication protocol having a pre-determined
control message format used to transmit the message information by using
the identifier name.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system further comprises an another PSTN line other than the PSTN line, the telephone
equipment adapter which includes a PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit that
performs at least one of transmission and reception of the message information via the
IP network by using a point-to-point protocol (PPP) communication protocol via the
another PSTN line.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the telephone equipment adapter which further includes a
serial_port_communication_processing_unit that has a serial port, and performs at least
one of transmission and reception of the message information via the IP network by
using a point-to-point protocol (PPP) communication protocol via the serial port cable.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit which keeps the connection to
the PSTN line after finishing communication between the message information
transmitting side and the message information receiving destination, and transmits to
the message information receiving destination via the PSTN line an address information
corresponding to an identification information of the telephone equipment of message
information transmitting side.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the PSTN_line_signal _processing_unit which keeps the connection
to the PSTN line after either one of the message information transmitting side and the
message information receiving side finishes the communication, and while maintaining
the PSTN line connection, sends an address information of the telephone equipment of
the message information transmitting side via the PSTN line after waiting for an amount
of time when the communication is likely to be finished.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the PSTN_line_signal _processing_unit which sends at least a busy
tone signal from a communication finishing side to a communication continuing side, in
order to make the communication continuing side to finish the communication, when
either one of the message information transmitting side and the message information
receiving destination finishes the communication.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system, when at least one of the message information transmitting side and the message
information receiving destination attempts to transmit a message information to a
telephone equipment while an address information corresponding to an identification
information of the telephone equipment is still being transmitted via the PSTN line,
comprises the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit which sends at least a busy tone
signal to the telephone equipment attempted to transmit the message information.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the PSTN_line_signal _processing_unit which prioritizes a
transmission process of an address information corresponding to an identification
information of the telephone equipment than a message information transmission
process of the telephone equipment, when at least one of the address information
transmitting side and the address information receiving destination attempts to transmit
the message information to the telephone equipment while the address information
corresponding to the identification information of the telephone equipment is still being
transmitted via the PSTN line.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the PSTN_line_signal _processing_unit which detects a condition of
no identification information input after waiting for a specific time interval, and decides
that the identification information input is finished.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the identification information which comprises of a word information
and an end information indicating end of the identification information, the
PSTN_line_signal _processing_unit which confirms an input of the end information,
and decides that the identification information input is finished.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the identification information which comprises at least a
communication enterprise information specifying the communication enterprises, and
the communication enterprise information specifies a size of the identification
information, the PSTN_line_signal _processing_unit which determines the size of
identification information based on the communication enterprise information of the
identification information, and decides that the identification information input is
finished by comparing a size of the determined identification information and a size of
the inputted identification information.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit which hands over the
identification information that finished the input to the address translation unit after
decided that the identification information input is finished, and the address translation
unit translates the identification information handed over by the
PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit to the address information.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the identification information which is comprised of more than one
word information, the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit which hands over at least one
word information inputted to the address translation unit when at least one word
information is input as the identification information, and the address translation unit
which compares at least one word information handed over and an identification
information stored in the address translation table, and regards matching address
information as an address information candidate when at least one word information
handed over matches in part to the identification information stored in the address
translation table.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the address translation unit which adapts the address information
candidate as an address information if the address information candidate is the last one.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the address translation unit which adapts the last one of the address
information candidate as an address information when the word information handed
over by the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit exceeds a pre-determined number as the
address information candidates approach the last one.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the telephone equipment adapter which receives the message
information via the IP network of the message information transmitting side has a same
type of telephone equipment adapter as the telephone equipment adapter of the message
information transmitting side, and the telephone equipment adapter of the message
information receiving side which includes an IP_address_learning_unit for transmitting
an identification information that identifies the telephone equipment connected to the
telephone equipment adapter of the message information receiving side to the telephone
equipment adapter of the message information transmitting side, for receiving the
address information transmitted from the telephone equipment adapter of the message
information transmitting side.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_address_learning_unit of the telephone equipment adapter of
the message information receiving side which selects either one of receiving and not
receiving the address information transmitted from the telephone equipment adapter of
the message information transmitting side.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_address_learning_unit which selects either one of transmitting
and not transmitting the address information to the telephone equipment adapter of the
message information receiving side.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit which inputs from the
telephone equipment an erasing information to erase the address information and the
identification information stored in the address translation table, and the
IP_address_learning_unit erases the address information and the identification
information stored in the address translation table according to the erasing information.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises either one of the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit and the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit which alarms any one of the IP network,
the telephone equipment, and the PSTN line when an error occurs as a result of carrying
out control of the telephone equipment adapter according to the control information
stored in the control_information_storing_unit.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises either one of the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit and the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit which detects that communication is
unable due to a failure occurring at either one of the IP network and the PSTN line, and
alarms any one of the IP network, the telephone equipment, and the PSTN line.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the either one of the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit and the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit which notifies of restoration to any one of
the IP network, the telephone equipment, and the PSTN line after the failure is restored.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises either one of the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit and the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit which notifies of the process in progress
mode to an another telephone equipment requesting for connection to a telephone
equipment connected to a telephone equipment adapter performing any one of the
processes of a PSTN line communication process, a RTP communication process, and
an HTTP communication process.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the relay server which manages communication between a certain
telephone equipment adapter and an another telephone equipment adapter by using a
communication connection identification information, and stores the communication
connection identification information in a packet information, and outputs the packet
information to the IP network.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the relay server which manages and stores at least either one of a
communication time and an amount of communication packet as a log information by
mapping to the communication connection identification information.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit of the telephone
equipment adapter managed by the relay server which transmits at least one of the GET,
POST and PUT method messages to the relay server by the HTTP access.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the HTTP_communication_processing_unit of the relay server which
stores the message information in a reply message to the HTTP access by the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit of the telephone equipment adapter, and
transmits the reply message to the telephone equipment adapter, the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit of the telephone equipment adapter
managed by the relay server which receives the replay message transmitted from the
relay server, and extracts the message information stored in the reply message received.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system, comprises the message information which has a size one message information,
the IP_network_communication_processing_unit of the telephone equipment adapter
which is managed by the relay server stores a GET method message in the packet
information used to obtain a size two message information that is larger than the size
one message information, for obtaining the size one message information from the relay
server, and transmits the GET message to the relay server by using the HTTP access,
and receives the reply message transmitted from the relay server by using the HTTP
access.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit of the telephone
equipment adapter managed by the relay server which maintains connection to the relay
server and receives more than one reply messages until a total size of the size one
message information which is stored in the reply message transmitted from the relay
server exceeds the size two.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit of the telephone
equipment adapter managed by the relay server which re-attempts connection if cut off
connection at either one of the timing of during and immediately after the
communication to the HTTP_communication_processing_unit of the relay server,
continues the connection, and performs the communication.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the IP_network_communication_processing_unit of the telephone
equipment adapter managed by the relay server which discontinues the connection to
the relay server if there is no reply coming from the relay server after a pre-determined
amount of time at either one of the timings of during the communication and
immediately after the communication to the HTTP_communication_processing_unit of
the relay server, re-attempt the connection and continues the communication.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system has a telephone equipment managing device as either one of PBX and button
telephone for managing a plurality of telephone equipment placed in between the
plurality of telephone equipment and the telephone equipment adapter, comprises the
PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit of the telephone equipment adapter which receives
an identification information of the destination telephone equipment of the message
information receiving side from the telephone equipment of the message information
transmitting side, and transmits the identification information received to the telephone
equipment managing device.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the destination telephone equipment of the message information
receiving side which has a number display function for displaying an identification
number of the message information transmitting side, and connects to the telephone
equipment adapter, and the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit of the telephone
equipment adapter connected to a telephone equipment having the number display
function receives an identification information of the message information transmitting
side, and transmits the identification information received to the telephone equipment
having the number display function.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the destination telephone equipment of the message information
receiving side which has a number display function for displaying an identification
number of the message information transmitting side, and connects to the telephone
equipment adapter, and the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit of the telephone
equipment adapter connected to a telephone equipment of the message information
transmitting side which transmits an identification information for identifying the
telephone equipment of the message information transmitting side to the destination
telephone equipment adapter of the message information receiving side when
transmitting the message information via the IP network.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, the internet telephone network
system comprises the telephone equipment of the message information transmitting side
which outputs the identification information including an non-notification information
which instructs not to notify the identification number of the telephone equipment of the
message information transmitting side to the destination telephone equipment of the
message information receiving side, and the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit of the
telephone equipment adapter connected to the telephone equipment of the message
information transmitting side which does not transmit the identification information to
the destination telephone equipment adapter of the message information receiving side
when the non-notification information is included in the identification information.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, a network access method for
accessing a network including a digital communication line for communicating digital
data and an analog communication line for communicating analog data, the network
access method comprising: inputting message information from a telephone equipment;
selecting a route from an IP (internet protocol) network and a PSTN (Public Switched
Telephone Network) line; and outputting the information to the route selected. The
network access method comprises: generating route selecting information to select the
route from the IP network and the PSTN line, inputting the route selecting information,
and outputting the message information to the one of the IP network and the PSTN line
based on the route selecting information.
-
According to another aspect of the present invention, a telephone equipment adapter
comprises inputting message information from a telephone equipment, selecting a route
from an IP (internet protocol) network and a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone
Network) line; and outputting the information to the route selected. The telephone
equipment adapter comprises: a PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit for inputting the
message information outputted from the telephone equipment; an
IP_network_communication_processing_unit for executing at least one of transmission
and reception of the message information via the IP network; a designation identifying
unit for generating route selecting information to select the route from the IP network
and the PSTN line; and a line_connection_switching_unit for inputting the route
selecting information, and outputting the message information inputted from the
PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit, to the one of the IP network and the PSTN line
based on the route selecting information.
Brief Description of the Drawings
-
- Fig. 1 shows a network configuration of the internet telephone network system of
Embodiment 1.
- Fig. 2 shows a general view of an image of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 1.
- Fig. 3 shows a configuration of various units of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 1.
- Fig. 4 shows a functional flow chart of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 1.
- Fig. 5 shows a functional flow chart of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 1.
- Fig. 6 shows a functional flow chart of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 1.
- Fig. 7 shows a functional flow chart of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 1.
- Fig. 8 describes a learning function of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 2.
- Fig. 9 shows a configuration of various units of the telephone equipment adapter in
Embodiment 2.
- Fig. 10 shows a functional flow chart of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 2.
- Fig. 11 shows a functional flow chart of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 2.
- Fig. 12 shows a flow chart of various units of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 3.
- Fig. 13 shows a network configuration of the internet telephone network system
using the telephone equipment adapter of Embodiment 3.
- Fig. 14 shows a flow chart of various units of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 3.
- Fig. 15 shows one example of permission data stored in the permission data storing
unit of Embodiment 3.
- Fig. 16 shows a configuration of various units in the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 4.
- Fig. 17 shows a network configuration of the internet telephone network system of
Embodiment 5 protected by firewall.
- Fig. 18 shows a configuration of the IP network communication processing unit of
Embodiment 5.
- Fig. 19 shows a functional flow chart of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 5.
- Fig. 20 shows a functional flow chart of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 5.
- Fig. 21 shows a functional flow chart of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 5.
- Fig. 22 shows a configuration of the voice data packet of Embodiment 5.
- Fig. 23 shows a configuration of the IP network communication processing unit of
Embodiment 6.
- Fig. 24 shows a configuration of the IP network communication processing unit of
Embodiment 7.
- Fig. 25 shows a configuration of the IP network communication processing unit of
Embodiment 7.
- Fig. 26 shows a network configuration of the internet telephone network system of
Embodiment 8, which is provided with the telephone equipment adapter, the HTTP
relay server, and the firewall.
- Fig. 27 shows a configuration of various units of the HTTP relay server of
Embodiment 8.
- Fig. 28 shows a configuration of IP network communication processing unit of
Embodiment 8.
- Fig. 29 shows a configuration of various units of the HTTP relay server managing
server and the HTTP relay server of Embodiment 8.
- Fig. 30 shows a configuration of various units of the HTTP relay server managing
server and the HTTP relay server of Embodiment 8.
- Fig. 31 describe HTTP relay server execution method of Embodiment 8 at (A), (B),
and (C), for communicating beyond the firewall.
- Fig. 32 shows a functional flow chart of the telephone equipment adapter using
HTTP relay server of Embodiment 8.
- Fig. 33 shows a functional flow chart of the telephone equipment adapter using
HTTP relay server of Embodiment 8.
- Fig. 34 shows a functional flow chart of the HTTP relay server of Embodiment 8.
- Fig. 35 shows a configuration of various units of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 9.
- Fig. 36 shows a configuration of various units of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 10.
- Fig. 37 shows a configuration of various units of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 11.
- Fig. 38 shows a configuration of an outline for communicating between two users
using both telephone equipment and telephone equipment adapter in Embodiment 14.
- Fig. 39 shows one example of sequential procedure of transmitting and receiving the
IP address in Embodiment 14.
- Fig. 40 shows an example of identification number for different communication
enterprises for Embodiment 15.
- Fig. 41 shows a plurality of telephone line connections in use by using a typical
telephone managing device for the Embodiment 16
- Fig. 42 shows a plurality of telephone line connection in use by using a telephone
managing device connected to the telephone equipment adapter for the Embodiment 16.
- Fig. 43 shows a pattern of making telephone call from a third individual where the
three communication methods including PSTN line method, UDP method and HTTP
method coexist, for the Embodiment 20.
- Fig. 44 shows a configuration of the conventional internet telephone equipment
adapter.
-
Preferred Embodiments
Embodiment 1.
-
Herein below, one example of the internet telephone network system of the present
invention is described with reference to the drawings.
-
The drawing of Fig. 1 shows a configuration of the internet telephone network
system of the Embodiment 1.
-
In Fig. 1, the reference numerals 10 and 20 denote typical telephone sets. The
reference numerals 12 and 22 denote telephone equipment adapters. The reference
numeral 11 denotes an indoor telephone line for connecting the telephone set 10 and the
telephone equipment adapter 12. The reference numeral 21 denotes an indoor
telephone line for connecting the telephone set 20 and the telephone equipment adapter
22. The reference numeral 13 denotes a PSTN line. Example of the PSTN line 13 is
a telephone line. The PSTN line 13 connects the telephone equipment adapter 12 and
the telephone equipment adapter 22. The reference numerals 14 and 24 denote IP
networks that are the examples of data communication networks. The IP networks 14
and 24 connect the telephone equipment adapters 12 and 22. The reference numeral
16 denotes an intranet or the internet. The reference numerals 15 and 25 denote
routers. The router 15 controls between the internet/intranet 16 and the IP network 14.
The router 25 controls between the internet/intranet 16 and the IP network 24.
-
The drawing of Fig. 2 shows a general view of an image of connecting the telephone
equipment adapter 12 to the telephone set 10.
-
As illustrated in Fig. 1, the telephone set 10 and the telephone equipment adapter 12
is connected by the indoor telephone line 11. As in Fig. 2, the telephone equipment
adapter 12 connects the IP network 14 and the PSTN line 13 and a power cord 170. In
addition to that, the telephone equipment adapter 12 has a LED display 191 indicating
situations such as "power on" mode and "communication in progress" mode.
-
The drawing of Fig. 3 shows a configuration of the telephone equipment adapter of
the Embodiment 1.
-
The description of reference numerals in Fig. 3 follows below. The reference
numeral 100 denotes a line_connection_switching_unit for switching the connection
line (the PSTN line 13, the IP network 14) if the destination telephone set is connectable
via the IP network. The reference numeral 1100 denotes a PSTN
line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit for transmitting and receiving to the telephone
set 10 an analog voice data which is one of the communication information via the
PSTN line 13. The reference numeral 5000 denotes an
IP_network_communication_processing_unit for transmitting and receiving a digital
voice data which is one of the communication information via the IP network 14. The
reference numeral 200 denotes a designation identifying unit for identifying if the
communication information can be transmitted and received to/at the destination
telephone set connected to the same type of telephone equipment adapter via the IP
network. The reference numeral 302 denotes an address translation table. The
telephone number is one of the identification information. The internet protocol
address is an address information required to transmit the communication information to
the destination telephone equipment via the IP network. The telephone number and
the internet protocol address are mapped and stored in the address translation table 302.
The reference numeral 300 denotes a telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit for
referring to the address translation table 302 using the telephone number inputted from
the telephone set 10, and translating it to the internet protocol address (hereinafter
referred to as IP address). In simple terms, the
telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300 is an address translation unit. The
reference numeral 500 denotes a digital_voice_data/analog_voice data_converting_unit
for converting the digital voice data from the IP network to the analog voice data
recognizable by the telephone set 10. The reference numeral 600 denotes an
analog_voice_data/digital_voice_data_converting_unit for converting the analog voice
data which is a communication information inputted from the telephone set 10 to the
digital voice data to be transmitted via the IP network 14. In simple terms, the
analog_voice_data/digital_voice_data_converting_unit 600 is an analog/digital
converting unit.
-
With reference to Fig. 3, a private branch exchange (hereinafter abbreviated to as
PBX) 190 is placed in between the telephone set 10 and the telephone equipment
adapter 12. The PBX 190 allows the switching of the connection lines. The PBX
190 is not always necessary. An advantage of placing the PBX 190 is that only a
single telephone equipment adapter 12 is needed among a plurality of telephone sets.
The PBX 190 shall be described later in the specification.
-
The operation is now described with reference to the flow charts of Figs. 4 and 5.
For the purpose of simplifying the explanation, the telephone set 10 and the telephone
equipment adapter 12 altogether shall be regarded as "calling side" and the telephone
set 20 and the telephone equipment adapter 22 altogether shall be regarded as "call
receiving side".
-
To being with, the telephone equipment adapter 12 is power on in step S10. In step
S11, a PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 and an
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 check whether or not there is any
call from other telephone sets. If the call is ringing from the PSTN line side (step S12),
then the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 transmits a ringing tone
inputted from the PSTN line 13 from the telephone set 20 to the telephone set 10 as it is.
Then, the telephone set 20 waits until the receiver of the telephone set 10 is picked up
(step S13). If the receiver of the telephone set 10 is not picked up or if the call from
the telephone set 20 finishes, then return to the step S10. If the receiver is picked up in
step S14, the communication enters the communication mode via the PSTN_line, and
the communication goes on until disconnected (steps S15 and S30). If the call is
ringing from the IP network side, then the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 transmits a ringing tone to the
telephone set 10, and waits until the receiver is picked up (step S16). If the call from
the telephone set 20 finishes in step S17, then return to the step S10. If the receiver is
picked up, then in step S18, the communication enters the communication mode via the
IP network, and the communication goes on until disconnected.
-
The process procedure of step S18 is described in detail with reference to the flow
chart of Fig. 7.
-
With reference to Fig. 7, in step S1000, the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 checks if a data is received from the
IP network 14. The process ends if no data is being received. If the data is being
received, then in step S1001, the IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000
deletes an IP header from the data received. Note that the received data is inputted
from the IP network 14. The received data is a digital voice data. The digital voice
data is a packet information. Following on, in step S1002, the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 further deletes a communication
protocol header from the data that removed the IP header. In step S1003, the obtained
digital voice data is decoded. Next, in step S1004, the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 converts the decoded digital voice
data to the analog voice data. Then, the IP_network_communication_processing_unit
5000 transmits the analog voice data converted by the
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 to the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100. In step S1005, the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 transmits the transmitted analog
voice data to the telephone set 10. After finishing the transmission of the analog voice
data to the telephone set 10, in order to decide if the communication should go on or not,
the communication process continues by returning to step S2000 of Fig. 6 which shall
be described later in the specification.
-
What is meant by the communication mode mentioned in step S18 of Fig. 5 is that
the analog_voice_data/digital_voice_data_converting_unit 6000 of the telephone
equipment adapter 22 converts an analog voice signal from the telephone set 20 to a
digital voice data. The digital voice data is transmitted to the IP network 24. This is
illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. On the other hand, the
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 converts the digital voice
data transmitted via the internet/intranet to an analog voice data, and transmits the
analog voice data to the telephone set 10.
-
Now, back to the beginning of the processes, in step S11 when there is no call from
other telephone sets at all, the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100
confirms if a receiver of its own telephone set 10 is picked up in step S20. At this time,
if the receiver is not picked up, then return to step S10. If the receiver is picked up, the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 transmits a tone of notifying the
telephone set 10 that it is ready for the telephone number inputting mode, and confirms
the input of the telephone number in step S21. In step S22, the
telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300 refers to the address translation
table and obtains the IP address of the destination telephone set 20 based on the inputted
telephone number. If the IP address is obtained properly in step S23, the designation
identifying unit 200 creates a path selection information for transmitting and receiving
the communication information via the IP network. The
line_connection_switching_unit 100 activates the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000. The
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 transmits a digital signal for calling
the destination telephone set 20. The telephone sets 10 and 20 enter a communication
mode when the receiver of the telephone set 20 is picked up. The communication goes
on until disconnected in step S24.
-
The detailed explanation of step S24 in Fig. 4 is described with reference to Fig. 6.
-
With reference to Fig. 6, in step S2000, the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 confirms if the receiver of the
telephone set 10 is put back or not. Following on, in step S2001, the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 confirms if a voice is input by the
telephone set 10 during the set time. If a voice is input in the set time, then the
analog_voice_data/digital_voice_data_converting_unit 600 converts the inputted analog
voice data into the digital voice data. The
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 collects the voice data during a
sampling time that is previously determined. The collected voice data during the pre-determined
time is converted from the analog data to the digital data. The digital voice
data is transmitted to the destination telephone set 20 in step S2002. The converted
digital voice data is handed over to the IP_network_communication_processing_unit
5000, and the voice data is compressed (coded) in step S2003. Then, the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 attaches a communication protocol
header to the coded voice data itself in step S2004. Further, an IP header is attached to
this data in step S2005. The created data is transmitted to the IP network 14 in step
S2006. The process advances to the next stage of confirming the returning of
communication information from the telephone set 20 via the IP network 24 as in step
S1000 of Fig. 7. Explanation of the processes in Fig. 7 is omitted herewith. Refer to
the detailed explanation of step S18 in Fig. 5 for the process of Fig. 7.
-
If not translated properly to the IP address, then the designation identifying unit 200
creates a path selection information in such a way that allows the communication
information to be transmitted and received via the PSTN line. The
line_connection_switching_unit 100 switches the connection line to the PSTN line 13
and activates the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100. In step S25, the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 transmits a call tone via the PSTN
line 13 to a telephone set having a telephone number corresponding to the telephone
number input by the telephone set 10. In step S30, the communication enters the
communication mode via the PSTN line if the destination receiver is picked up. The
communication goes on until disconnected.
-
The case in which the receiver of the telephone set 20 is not picked up is not
described in the flow chart of Fig. 4. This is the case of disconnecting itself and
returning to the first step of S10.
-
The telephone equipment adapter of Embodiment 1 connects a telephone line to
both the PSTN line and the IP network. The telephone line such as PBX is connected
by a typical telephone set (dial, push button type). The telephone equipment adapter
decides if a telephone call can be made from a telephone set and can be connected to the
destination telephone set via the IP network. Based on the decision, the
line_connection_switching_unit 100 automatically switches the connection line. The
telephone call is made via the IP network if decided as possible. However, if the
telephone call cannot be made via the IP network, then the telephone call is made via
the PSTN line. Such cases are as follows. The telephone number cannot be
converted to the IP address. The destination telephone set is not connected to the IP
network. The telephone equipment adapter between the telephone set 20, and the IP
network 24 is not interchangeable to the telephone equipment adapter 12.
-
As so far described if the call destination telephone set is geared for communication
via the IP network, then the IP network side is used. If not, the PSTN line side is used
to make a telephone call. With the automatic switching of the connection line to the IP
network side or to the PSTN line side, the user only has to set up the telephone set and
the telephone equipment adapter once. The user can transmit or receive
communication information via any one of the PSTN line or the IP network as desired
without too much trouble.
-
Accordingly, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 1 comprises the
line_connection_switching_unit 100, the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit
1100, and the IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000. The
line_connection_switching_unit 100 switches the connection line based on a result of
checking the possibility of connecting to the destination telephone set via the IP
network when making a call from a typical telephone set connected to both the PSTN
line and an IP network configured to IP communication (hereinafter simply referred to
as IP network). The PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 transmits
and receives a signal between the telephone sets on the PSTN line. The
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 transmits and receives the IP
network signal of the IP network side. If the communication is possible on the IP
network, then a telephone call is made via the IP network. If the communication is not
possible on the IP network, then a telephone call is made via the PSTN line.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 1
comprises the designation identifying unit 200. The designation identifying unit 200
decides whether or not a telephone call can be made from a telephone set connected to a
telephone equipment adapter to an another telephone set connected to the same type of
telephone equipment adapter via the IP network. A telephone call can be made via the
IP network accordingly.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 1
comprises the telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300. The
telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300 automatically translates a telephone
number of a general PSTN line to the internet protocol address (hereinafter referred to
as IP address) when the telephone call can be made via the IP network. This way, the
telephone number that was being used by the user can be adapted as it is, to make a
telephone call via the IP network.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 1
comprises the digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 and the
analog_voice_data/digital_voice_data_converting_unit 600. The
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 converts a digital voice data
from the IP network to the analog voice signal for transmitting to the telephone set 10 in
order to allow for the voice communication from a telephone set connected to the
telephone equipment adapter to the telephone set 10 connected to the IP network side.
The analog_voice_data/digital_voice_data_converting_unit 600 converts the analog
voice data from the telephone set 10 to the digital voice data. The digital voice data is
transmitted via the IP network side. The telephone call can be made via the IP
network. This is made possible by the bi-directional conversion of digital voice data
and analog voice data.
Embodiment 2
-
In the Embodiment 2, the designation identifying unit 200 of destination telephone
set transmits its IP address if that IP address is not registered in the address translation
table 302 of the calling side. The IP address transmitted from the destination
telephone set is registered to the address translation table 302 in the telephone
equipment adapter of the calling side.
-
The drawing of Fig. 8 explains a learning function possessed by the designation
identifying unit 200 in the Embodiment 2.
-
Referring to Fig. 8, a telephone call is made from the telephone set 10 to the
telephone set 20. If the IP address of the telephone set 20 is not registered in the
address translation table 302 of the
telephone equipment adapter 12, then the following
procedures will apply:
- 1. if the IP address is not registered in the address translation table 302, a telephone call
is made via the PSTN line.
- 2. after finishing the call, the IP addresses are exchanged, and the received IP address is
registered to their respective address translation tables 302.
- 3. the IP address stored in the address translation table 302 is referred to make a second
telephone call onwards via the IP network.
-
-
The procedures 1, 2, and 3 mentioned above is the learning function for obtaining
the IP address of the destination side, which is equipped by the designation identifying
unit 200.
-
The drawing of Fig. 9 shows a configuration diagram of each unit of the telephone
equipment adapter of the present invention.
-
Referring to Fig. 9, the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100
transmits an IP address information upon putting the receiver back after a call is made
via a general PSTN line. The reference numeral 400 denotes an
IP_address_learning_unit for giving an instruction to the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 for obtaining an IP address from
the telephone equipment adapter connected to the destination telephone set. The IP
address is mapped to the telephone number used in the conventional general PSTN line.
The IP_address_learning_unit 400 is provided at the designation identifying unit 200.
-
The operation of the telephone equipment adapter shown in Fig. 9 is now described
with reference to the flow charts of Fig. 10 and Fig. 11.
-
The whole process of making a telephone call is same as Fig. 4 and Fig.5 of
Embodiment 1. That is, steps S10 ∼S30 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are equivalent to the
steps S10∼S30 of Fig. 10 and Fig. 11.
-
The additional process to note in Figs. 10 and 11 compared to Figs. 4 and 5 is that if
a telephone call cannot be made from the telephone set 10 via the IP network, then the
IP addresses are exchanged after confirming that the telephone equipment adapter is of
the same kind upon finishing the call. A similar process is added in both cases of.
making and receiving a telephone call.
-
Operation of the former case, that is, the case of making a telephone call from the
telephone set 10 is now described. In step S25, the telephone communication via the
PSTN line finishes. In step S40, the IP_address_learning_unit 400 instructs the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 to transmit a tone signal to inquire
if the destination telephone set is connected to the telephone equipment adapter of the
same kind. As a result of the inquiry, in step S41, if a configuration of the telephone
equipment adapter of the destination telephone set is not interchangeable to the
configuration of the telephone equipment adapter illustrated in Fig. 9, then the process
finishes because there is no response from the telephone equipment adapter of the
destination telephone set after waiting for a pre-determined amount of time. If
however, the telephone equipment adapter of the destination telephone set is of the same
kind in step S41, then there will be a response. So that in step S42, the
IP_address_learning_unit 400 instructs the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 to transmit the IP address to the
telephone equipment adapter of the destination telephone set using the analog signal
tone. Its own IP address is stored in the address translation table 302 along with its
telephone number. The PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 refers to
the address translation table 302 and obtains its own IP address corresponding to its
telephone number. Alternatively, the IP_address_learning_unit 400 may refer to the
address translation table 302 for obtaining the IP address mapped to its telephone
number, and may pass the obtained IP address onto the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100. Following on, the destination
telephone equipment adapter transmits its IP address and the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 receives the IP address. The
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 transmits the received IP address to
the IP_address_learning_unit 400. The IP_address_learning_unit 400 stores the
received IP address along with the destination telephone number in the address
translation table 302 in step S43.
-
The operation of the latter case, that is, the case of receiving a telephone call is now
described. In step S30, a telephone communication via the PSTN line finishes. The
telephone equipment adapter of the destination telephone set making a telephone call
transmits a tone signal for inquiring whether a telephone equipment adapter is
interchangeable or not. The PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100
receives a tone signal transmitted from the telephone equipment adapter connected to
the destination telephone set, and sends a response tone signal within a pre-determined
time in step S50. Return to step S10 if the inquiring tone signal from the destination
telephone equipment adapter does not reach. After responding by sending a tone
signal, the IP address of the destination telephone equipment adapter is transmitted,
therefore, the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 receives the
transmitted IP address, and hands over the received IP address to the
IP_address_learning_unit 400. The IP_address_learning_unit 400 stores the
destination telephone number and IP address to the address translation table 302 in step
S51. The destination telephone number is sent along with the IP address.
Alternatively, in the case of receiving a telephone call from the destination telephone set,
the destination telephone number is obtained and temporarily stored in the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 or the IP_address_learning_unit
400. Following on, the IP_address_learning_unit 400 obtains its own telephone
number and the IP address from the address translation table 302 and notifies the
telephone number and the IP address to the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100. The
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 transmits the notified telephone
number and the IP address by means of analog signal tone to the destination telephone
set in step S52. Note that only IP address may be notified here.
-
In the operations described as per above have regarded the IP addresses are
exchanged after finishing the communication, however, such exchanges may be done
before the start of the communication immediately after picking up the receiver of the
telephone set.
-
As described, the IP_address_learning_unit 400 is provided for receiving the IP
address mapping to the telephone number of the destination telephone set after making a
call via the PSTN line. Likewise, the IP_address_learning_unit 400 notifies the IP
address mapping to the telephone number of its own telephone after finishing a
telephone call via the PSTN line. An extra process of looking up the IP address of the
destination and setting the information to the address translation table 302 is no longer
necessary.
-
Accordingly, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 2 comprises the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 and the IP_address_learning_unit
400. The PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 exchanges the IP
address information upon finishing the telephone communication with the destination
telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter of the same kind or of the
present invention having an interchangeable configuration. The
IP_address_learning_unit 400 maps and stores the IP address and the telephone number
being used in the conventional PSTN line. The IP_address_learning_unit 400
equipped in the internet telephone network system of the present embodiment allows an
automatic usage of the IP network from the second telephone call onwards.
Embodiment 3
-
In the Embodiment 3, the telephone equipment adapter is equipped with a tele-conference
function. The Embodiment 3 describes an example of carrying out the
tele-conference using a telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter.
-
Fig. 12 shows a configuration of various parts of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 3.
-
Referring to Fig. 12, the reference numeral 700 denotes a voice_data_mixing_unit
700 for mixing more than two voice data other than your own voice speaking using the
telephone set 10 and outputting the mixed voices. The reference numeral 800 denotes
a tele-conference_identification_number_managing_unit for managing the set
identification number of the tele-conference. The reference numeral 900 denotes a
telephone_set_identification_number_managing_unit for managing the telephone
identification number of the participants in the tele-conference. The reference numeral
1000 denotes a tele-conference_attendance_password_managing_unit for storing and
managing the passwords registered by the participants of the tele-conference. The
tele-conference_identification_number_managing_unit 800, the
telephone_set_identification_number_managing_unit 900, and the tele-conference_attendance_password_managing_unit
1000 altogether comprises a
simultaneous_call_managing_unit
850. The simultaneous_call_managing_unit 850 comprises a
permission_data_storing_unit 855 for storing the tele-conference attendance passwords
or the telephone identification number or tele-conference identification number as a
permission data. The tele-conference_identification_number_managing_unit 800, the
telephone_set_identification_number_managing_unit 900, and the tele-conference_attendance_password_managing_unit
1000 refer to the
permission_data_storing_unit 855 and manage the individuals or the telephone sets that
are allowed to participate in the tele-conference.
-
Fig. 13 shows a configuration of the internet telephone network system of
Embodiment 3.
-
Referring to Fig. 13, the reference numeral 30 denotes a telephone set. The
reference numeral 31 denotes an indoor telephone line. The reference numeral 32
denotes a telephone equipment adapter. The reference numeral 34 denotes an IP
network. The reference numeral 35 denotes a router. Refer to Fig. 1 for the
description of other reference numerals of Fig. 13.
-
In the Embodiment 3, let's assume that the telephone set 10 is communicating with
the telephone set 20 via the IP networks 14 and 24. While communication is taking
place between the two, a telephone call is made to the telephone set 10 from a telephone
set 30. The telephone set 30 requests to participate in the communication.
-
The operation is now described.
-
The basic process of in making a telephone call is same as Figs. 4 and 5 of the
Embodiment 1. However, unlike the situation in the Embodiment 1, the tele-conference
is the communication is considered to be involving at least more than three
individuals. A process of accepting the participation of a third individual who is using
the telephone set 30 is needed while the two individuals are talking to one another using
the telephone sets 10 and 20, respectively. This being the case, a process of
confirming the participation of the next individual during the process of step S24 of Fig.
4 and step S18 of Fig. 5 is needed. The detail of the process of the step S24 of Fig. 4 is
shown in Fig. 6. The detail of the process of the step S18 of Fig. 5 is shown in Fig. 7.
An extra process of confirming the tele-conference participants is described with
reference to the flow chart of Fig. 14. The additional process of confirming the
participation of three individuals onwards is added to Figs. 6 and 7 for describing the
Fig. 14.
-
For the detailed description starting from step S1000 and finishing at step 1005,
refer to the step S200 to step S2006 of Fig. 6. For the description starting from step
2000 and finishing at step 2006, refer to step S1000 to step S1005 of Fig. 7. Since
they are the equivalent processes, the descriptions are omitted herewith. Additional
processes in Fig. 14 are the step S3000 for confirming an incoming telephone call from
a third individual onwards, and the step S3001 for adding a status of the new individual
to the communication process if there is an incoming telephone call from the third
individual.
-
In the tele-conference, two individuals are communicating to each other via the IP
network to begin with. Then, a third individual makes a call to either one of the two
individuals via the IP network. At this situation, all of them are in the communication
mode including the third individual. The same applies to the fourth individual
onwards making telephone calls in the similar-manners. The process of confirming the
participation of the third individual onwards is as follows. The
voice_data_mixing_unit 700 mixes more than two voice data other than your own voice
received from the same kind of telephone equipment adapters connected to the other
telephone sets via the IP network. For instance, the communication voices from the
telephone sets 20 and 30 mixed by the voice_data_mixing_unit 700 of the telephone
equipment adapter 12 is output to the individual at the telephone set 10.
-
In this embodiment, the voice_data_mixing_unit 700 is built-in to the telephone
equipment adapter. Another possible configuration is having the
voice_data_mixing_unit 700 as a separate unit for transmitting the mixed voices of the
other participants by eliminating own one to the other telephone equipment adapter. In
this case, there is no need to provide the voice_data_mixing_unit 700 to the other
telephone equipment adapters.
-
The procedures of confirming the participation to the tele-conference described
above is a procedure of confirming whether there is any more participation of
individuals after third individual onwards during two individuals are communicating to
one another. A process of confirming whether the third individual is permitted in the
tele-conference is not included in these procedures. If the communication among the
three individuals is about a simple everyday matter of affairs and notification of liaison
matters, there is no need to confirm whether the participating individual is a permitted
one or not, however, as for the tele-conference, there is definitely a need for that. Such
that in the Embodiment 3, in order to confirm whether an individual wishing to
participate in the tele-conference is a permitted one or not, an identification number is
attached to the tele-conference. Before the start of communication, the individual
must input the conference identification number that is one of the permission data.
Three methods are considered. First method is to attach a tele-conference
identification number to the tele-conference, and inputs the tele-conference
identification number by an individual before communication, and to decide if the
inputted tele-conference identification number is correct one or not. The tele-conference
identification number is one of the permission data. Second method is to
confirm whether the telephone set is allowed for participation to the tele-conference
based on the telephone identification number of the telephone set making a telephone
call. The telephone identification number is another permission data. Note that in
this method, the telephone identification number is attached to the telephone set
beforehand. The third method is to confirm whether the password is correct one or not.
The password is an another permission data input before starting communication. The
three methods are described hereinbelow.
-
To begin with, the first method of setting the tele-conference identification number
is described.
-
The tele-conference identification number is set to each tele-conference. The tele-conference
identification numbers set are previously stored in the
permission_data_storing_unit 855. The tele-conference identification number is not
stored in all of the permission_data_storing_unit 855 of all of the telephone equipment
adapters connected to the telephone sets participating in the tele-conference. The tele-conference
identification number is only stored in the permission_data_storing_unit 855
of the telephone equipment adapter of the telephone set of the Chairman in the tele-conference.
The telephone equipment adapter connected to the Chairman's telephone
set confirms whether or not the participant can join the tele-conference. The
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 of the Chairman's telephone
equipment adapter notifies a communication request from the IP network 14 to the tele-conference_identification_number_managing_unit
800. The tele-conference_identification_number_managing_unit
800 that received the request notifies
by means of voice data message to the telephone set that requested the communication
to input the tele-conference identification number. When the tele-conference
identification number is input by the destination telephone set who made the call, then
the IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 receives the inputted tele-conference
identification number, and notifies the received tele-conference
identification number to the tele-conference_identification_number_managing_unit 800.
The tele-conference_identification_number_managing_unit 800 refers to the
permission_data_storing_unit 855 and confirms whether or not the notified tele-conference
identification number matches the tele-conference identification number
being set there. If the tele-conference identification number matches, then the tele-conference_identification_number_managing_unit
800 outputs a message of permitting
the communication via the IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000. The
destination individual hears the permission approval message. In addition to that, if
the tele-conference identification number notified by the destination telephone set does
not match the number set in the permission_data_storing_unit 855, then the tele-conference_identification_number_managing_unit
800 outputs a message of not
permitting the participation to the tele-conference to the destination telephone set via
the IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000. Likewise, the destination
individual hears the message.
-
Next, the second method of confirming the participation to the tele-conference
based on the telephone identification number is described.
-
The telephone identification numbers of telephone sets that can participate in the
tele-conference are previously set to the permission_data_storing_unit 855 of the
telephone equipment adapter connected to the tele-conference Chairman's telephone set.
The IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 of the telephone equipment
adapter connected to the Chairman's telephone set receives the communication request
from the IP network 14 and notifies to the
telephone_set_identification_number_managing_unit 900 of the notification request.
The telephone_set_identification_number_managing_unit 900 notifies a message to
input the telephone set identification number to the requesting telephone set. The
individual at the destination telephone set hears this message. Next, the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 refers to the
permission_data_storing_unit 855 and confirms whether or not the notified telephone
identification number is being set there. If the telephone identification number is
being set, then the IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 outputs a
message of permitting the participation to the tele-conference. The individual at the
destination telephone set hears this message. If the notified telephone identification
number is not being set in the permission_data_storing_unit 855, then the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 outputs a message of not permitting
the participation to the tele-conference. The individual at the destination telephone set
hears this message. In addition to that, there are cases in which a single Chairman
organizes a plurality of tele-conferences. In most of such cases, the number of
telephone sets participating in a tele-conference varies. Under such circumstances, a
telephone identification number is set to the tele-conference identification number
described above. For instance, in the case of organizing three tele-conferences as in
Fig. 15, the tele-conference identification number is set as 1000, 1330 and 1600 for
every tele-conferences. For the tele-conference identification number 1000, the
telephone set identification numbers are 500, 501, and 503. For the tele-conference
identification number 1330, the telephone set identification numbers are 500, 600, and
700. For the tele-conference identification number 1600, the telephone set
identification numbers are 101, 102, 105, 501, and 502.
-
It has so far been described that an individual who is making a telephone call from a
telephone set inputs the telephone identification number. Alternatively, the telephone
identification number is previously stored in the telephone equipment adapter connected
to the telephone set, and the telephone_set_identification_number_managing_unit 900
of the telephone equipment adapter connected to the Chairman's telephone set may
notify the telephone equipment adapter of the Chairman.
-
Next, the third method of confirming the participation to the tele-conference by
inputting a password is described.
-
The password is stored in the permission_data_storing_unit 855 of the Chairman's
telephone equipment adapter. The password has no use if it is breached to others.
Therefore, it is important for the individuals to set his/her own password to protect the
tele-conference identification number information beforehand. The method of setting
the password is described in the other embodiment. In the Embodiment 3, let's say
that the password is already being stored in the permission_data_storing_unit 855 of the
chairman's telephone equipment adapter. The passwords are stored for every tele-conference
identification numbers just like the telephone identification numbers of Fig.
15. The IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 of the chairman's
telephone equipment adapter notifies to the tele-conference_attendance_password_managing_unit
1000 when received a communication
request from the IP network 14. The tele-conference_attendance_password_managing_unit
1000 and the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 output a message to input the
password to the destination telephone set. The individual at the destination telephone
set hears this voice message. The individual of the destination telephone set inputs a
password. The IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 receives the
password and notifies the received password to the tele-conference_attendance_password_managing_unit
1000. The tele-conference_attendance_password_managing_unit
1000 refers to the
permission_data_storing_unit 855 and confirms whether the received password is being
set there. The passwords are set in the permission_data_storing_unit 855 based on the
tele-conference identification number. Therefore, the tele-conference identification
number and the password must be input at the same time. The
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 receives the password inputted from
the destination telephone set along with the tele-conference identification number. The
tele-conference_attendance_password_managing_unit 1000 notifies to the destination
telephone set by sending a message of permitting participation to the tele-conference if
the notified password and tele-conference identification number are set in the
permission_data_storing_unit 855. If they are not being set in the
permission_data_storing_unit 855, then a message of not permitting the participation is
sent to the destination telephone set. The individual of the destination telephone set
hears the voice notification message.
-
The tele-conference identification number, the telephone set identification number,
and the password are arbitrary combined to be used as a permission data used for
confirming the participation to the tele-conference.
-
Accordingly, in the Embodiment 3, more than two voice data other than your own
one received via the IP network from the other telephone sets connected to the
telephone equipment adapters of this embodiment are mixed, and the voices are output.
Hence, tele-conference by more than three individuals via the IP network is possible.
-
In addition to that, the tele-conference identification number is set to the tele-conference.
The tele-conference identification number must directly be specified and
transmitted. Therefore, the tele-conference is possible among the specified
participants via the IP network.
-
In addition to that, the telephone identification number is set to the telephone set
connected to the telephone equipment adapter. The telephone identification number of
the telephone set is transmitted to the Chairman's telephone set. The Chairman is
organizing the tele-conference. The tele-conference is possible via the IP network
among the specified telephone sets via the IP network.
-
In addition to that, the allocated password to each participant is managed for every
tele-conference. Each participant inputs the password upon participating to the tele-conference.
The inputted password is referred and compared to the registered
password, therefore, the verification of the tele-conference participant is possible.
-
Accordingly, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 3 comprises the
voice_data_mixing_unit 700 for mixing more than two voice data other than your own
voice, and output the voices. This allows the tele-conference using telephone sets
connected to telephone equipment adapters via the IP network by more than three
individuals.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system comprises the tele-conference_identification_number_managing_unit
800 and the
telephone_set_identification_number_managing_unit 900. The tele-conference_identification_number_managing_unit
800 manages the tele-conference
identification number of the tele-conference. The
telephone_set_identification_number_managing_unit 900 manages the telephone
identification number of the participants to the tele-conference. This way, participants
of the tele-conference are verified.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system comprises the tele-conference_attendance_password_managing_unit
1000 for managing and storing the
password registered by the participants to the tele-conference. This way, the
participants of the tele-conference are verified.
Embodiment 4.
-
In the Embodiment 4, an example related to a configuration_data_storing_unit in the
telephone equipment adapter is described. The configuration_data_storing_unit stores
a data for controlling the telephone equipment adapter. An information for changing
the configuration data stored in the configuration_data_storing_unit is input via the IP
network or the PSTN line, and the data of the configuration_data_storing_unit is
changed.
-
Fig. 16 shows a configuration of various parts in the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 4.
-
Referring to Fig. 16, the reference numeral 1200 denotes an
IP_network_data_reading/writing_unit for inputting update information to change a
configuration data that controls the telephone equipment adapter from the IP network 14,
and for changing the configuration data by accessing to the memory unit where the
configuration data is stored. The reference numeral 1300 denotes a
telephone_input_data_writing_unit for inputting the update information for changing
the configuration data to control the telephone equipment adapter 12 from the telephone
set 10, and changing the configuration data by accessing to the memory unit where the
configuration data is stored. The reference numeral 1400 denotes a
configuration_data_storing_unit for storing the configuration data to control the
telephone equipment adapter 12.
-
Next, the operation is described.
-
For instance, let's say that a maintenance operation of the telephone equipment
adapter is taking place. An update information is input to change the configuration
data by using push button on the telephone set 10. The
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 receives the update information in
a form of tone signal. The PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 hands
over the received update information to the telephone_input_data_writing_unit 1300.
The telephone_input_data_writing_unit 1300 accesses the
configuration_data_storing_unit 1400 according to the update information handed over
by the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100. The configuration data is
changed.
-
In addition to that, the update information can be input by any telephone set other
than the telephone set 10 via the PSTN line 13. By doing so, the configuration data
stored in the configuration_data_storing_unit 1400 of the telephone equipment adapter
12 can be changed from a distant location, for example.
-
In addition to that, for example, let's say that a personal computer is connected to
the IP network 14. The IP address of the telephone equipment adapter is specified
from the personal computer connected to the IP network 14. The update information
for changing the configuration data is input to the telephone equipment adapter 12 via
the IP network 14. The IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 receives
the update information. The IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 hands
over update information received to the IP_network_data_reading/writing_unit 1200.
The IP_network_data_reading/writing_unit 1200 changes the configuration data stored
in the configuration_data_storing_unit 1400 according to the update information for
changing the control information handed over by the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000. Accordingly, a configuration data
for the purpose of maintenance operation is input from a pre-existing telephone set or a
general-purpose personal computer connected to the telephone equipment adapter.
The configuration data stored in the configuration_data_storing_unit is changed based
on the inputted update information. Therefore, this can reduce the cost incurred in
attaching an extra data input/output device to the telephone equipment adapter for the
maintenance operation use. The users can easily carry out the set up of maintenance
operation using the conventional devices.
-
In addition to that, the permission data such as a tele-conference identification
number, a telephone identification number, and a password stored in the
permission_data_storing_unit 855 (refer to Fig. 12 of Embodiment 3) are input from a
telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter, from a personal computer
connected to the IP network, or from a telephone set in the distant location. If a
permission data is input from the telephone set, the telephone_input_data_writing_unit
1300 accesses and permission_data_storing_unit 855 where the permission data is
registered. If the permission data is input from a personal computer via the IP network
14, the IP_network_data_reading/writing_unit 1200 accesses the
permission_data_storing_unit 855 where the permission data is registered. The fact
that the permission data related to the tele-conference is input and registered from the
personal computer connected to the IP network or the telephone set connected to the
telephone equipment adapter allows the registration changing operation of the
permission data related to the tele-conference considered to have a frequent registration
changes such as new registration or changing and deleting the registered information
easy.
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In the Embodiment 4, the internet telephone network system comprises the
IP_network_data_reading/writing_unit 1200 for updating and writing data stored in the
telephone equipment adapter based on the received data from the IP network to the
telephone equipment adapter. The IP_network_data_reading/writing_unit 1200 is in
the telephone equipment adapter. This way, the configuration data maintenance
operation for controlling the telephone equipment adapter is done from the computer
such as a personal computer connected to telephone equipment adapter via the IP
network.
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In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 4
comprises the telephone_input_data_writing_unit 1300. The
telephone_input_data_writing_unit 1300 inputs an information for registering and
changing the data stored inside the telephone equipment adapter using the dial or push
buttons of the telephone set. The inputted information is used to register and change
the data stored in the telephone equipment adapter. This way, the maintenance
operation of the configuration data for controlling the telephone equipment adapter is
done from the telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter.
Embodiment 5
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The drawings that have described the Embodiments 1, 2, 3 and 4 show configuration
diagrams of various units indicating configuration elements of the telephone equipment
adapter in the internet telephone network system. In the Embodiment 5, a detailed
inner configuration of the IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 is
described.
-
The drawing of Fig. 17 shows a network configuration that is provided with the
firewall on the IP network for the Embodiment 5.
-
Referring to Fig. 17, the reference numerals 17 and 27 denote firewalls. Refer to
Fig. 1 for the description of other reference numerals.
-
The drawing of Fig. 18 shows a configuration of the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 for the Embodiment 5. The
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 of Fig. 18 of the present
embodiment is applied to the IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000
described in the referred drawings in the Embodiments 1, 2, 3 and 4 as it is.
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Referring to Fig. 18, the reference numeral 5100 denotes a
UDP_communication_processing_unit for processing User Datagram Protocol
(hereinafter abbreviated to as UDP) used as a communication protocol in transmitting
and receiving operations of the voice data on the IP network 14. The reference
numeral 5200 denotes a UDP_port_usage_managing_unit for transmitting and receiving
the voice data via a specified UPD port despite of the firewall. The reference numeral
5300 denotes a UDP_port_communication_confirming_unit for searching the UPD port
that can transmit and receive data despite of the firewall. The reference numeral 5400
denotes a RTP_communication_processing_unit for processing the Real-time Transport
Protocol (hereinafter abbreviated to as RTP) used as a communication protocol in
transmitting and receiving the voice data on the IP network 14.
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Following on, the operation is described with reference to the flow charts of Figs. 19,
20 and 21.
-
The flow charts of Fig. 19 and Fig. 20 describe the same processes as in the flow
charts of Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 of the Embodiment 2. The Fig. 21 describes the processes
of Embodiment 5. The IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 operates at
the communication situation that is transmission and reception processes of the voice
data in the Embodiments 1, 2, 3 and 4. The Embodiment 5 shall be described using a
case example of transmitting a voice data from the communication destination
telephone equipment adapter 22 to the telephone equipment adapter 12 via the IP
network 14. Prior to that, let's describe about a header which is used in transmitting
and receiving the voice data by using the communication protocols UDP and RTP, with
reference to the drawing of Fig. 22. The configuration of voice data packets between
the telephone equipment adapter 22 and the telephone equipment adapter 12 via the IP
networks 14 and 24 are illustrated in Fig. 22. In the Embodiment 5, the IP packet is
constructed by attaching the following headers: an IP header 51, a UDP header 52, and
a RTP header 53.
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The voice data is transmitted from the telephone equipment adapter 22 via the IP
network 14. The UDP_communication_processing_unit 5100 of the telephone
equipment adapter 12 takes out a packet that attaches the UDP header 52 except for the
IP header 51 from the IP packet of the voice data. Then, the
RTP_communication_processing_unit 5400 takes out a packet that attaches the RTP
header 53 from the packet that attaches the UDP header 52. Then, the
RTP_communication_processing_unit 5400 transmits the digital voice data itself that
has removed the RTP header to the
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500. The
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 converts the digital voice
data to the analog voice data, and transmits the analog voice data to the telephone set 10
via the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100. This case example has
described that the analog voice data converted by the
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 is transmitted to the
telephone set 10 via the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving unit_1100. An
alternative path is also possible. That is, the
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 transmits the analog voice
data to the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 via the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000, and the analog voice data is output
to the telephone set 10.
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Following on, let's now describe a case example of transmitting the communication
information from the telephone set 10 to the telephone set 20 via the IP network 14.
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The analog voice data itself inputted from the telephone set 10 is input to the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 via the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100, the designation identifying unit
200, and the line_connection_switching_unit 100. The
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 converts the inputted analog voice
data to the digital voice data by the
analog_voice_data/digital_voice_data_converting_unit 600. The converted digital
voice data is input to the RTP_communication_processing_unit 5400 of the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000. A packet that attaches the RTP
header 53 is created. Further, the UDP_communication_processing_unit 5100 creates
a packet that attaches the UDP header 52. The IP packet that attaches the IP header 51
is transmitted to the telephone set 20 connected to the destination telephone equipment
adapter 22 via the IP network 14.
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By utilizing UDP, if the voice data packet did not reach the telephone equipment
adapter 22 connected to the destination telephone set 20, the voice data packet is not retransmitted.
Owing to this fact, the real time property of the voice data
communication is improved. In addition to that, by utilizing RTP, the transmission
time and a number of the voice data packets are managed, therefore, the real time
property of the voice data communication is improved.
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Next, in order to comply with the firewalls 17 and 27 standing in a path of the IP
network, the configuration for confirming whether the UDP port is usable or not is
described. An information indicating that the communication destination is in the
network environment blocked by the firewall is stored in the address translation table
302 along with the IP address. Since the information is stored in the address
translation table 302, the network environment of the destination is known when
making a telephone call.
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The procedure of making a telephone call from a telephone set connected to the
telephone equipment adapter, and the procedure of processing the received telephone
call is same as Embodiment 2 described using Figs. 10 and 11. If the telephone call
can be made to the destination via the IP network, then a confirmation process is
executed which confirms an availability of port for communicating with the destination
telephone equipment adapter.
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The communication procedures of the telephone set 10 via the telephone equipment
adapter 12 are illustrated according to the flow charts of Figs. 19, 20, and 21. Fig. 19
is the same process as a process described in Fig. 10 of the Embodiment 2. Fig. 20 is
the same process as a process described in Fig. 11 of the Embodiment 2. Fig. 21
shows a flow chart of an additional process in Embodiment 5. The steps from S2400
to S2406 in Fig. 21 are the processes that correspond to the step S24 of Fig. 10.
Referring to Fig. 19, in step S23, if the IP address is obtained based on the telephone
number inputted from the telephone set 10 by mapping, then the
UDP_port_communication_confirming_unit 5300 scans each port of the destination
telephone equipment adapter via the IP network 14, and checks whether or not an
arbitrary UDP port is accessible in step S2400. The
UDP_port_communication_confirming_unit 5300 specifies a fixed port number and
transmits data for confirming whether or not that port number is communication
possible. If a reply data is reached within a certain period of time from the telephone
equipment adapter connected to the destination telephone set, then we will know that
port number is usable. If the access is possible at an arbitrary UDP port, then a port
number of the UDP port is checked by the UDP_port_communication_confirming_unit
5300, and is set to the transmission destination port number of the UDP header 52, and
the communication process of the voice data at that arbitrary UDP port starts in step
S2401. If the port number is not usable, then in step S2402, confirm the possibility of
communication to the previously specified UDP port that is managed and controlled by
the UDP_port_usage_managing_unit 5200. In general, the firewalls do not allow the
use of arbitrary UDP port, however, the firewall can be set so that the limited and
specified UDP port is usable. For this purpose, the limited and specified UDP port is
previously managed and stored in the UDP_port_usage_managing_unit 5200. If this is
possible, then in step S2403, the communication processes of the voice data by using
the specified UDP port starts. If this is not possible, another communication port is
searched in order to find another possibility. In the example of this flow chart, the
accessibility of the HTTP port that is normally used is being checked (S2404).
However, in order to confirm whether the HTTP port is accessible or not as in step
S2404, a HTTP_port_communication_confirming_unit is needed, which will be
described later in the Embodiment 6. In this example, if determined "NO" in step
S2402, the accessibility to the HTTP port is confirmed as possible. In step S2402, if
determined "NO", then the process may be branched to the error notification process of
S2406.
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As described above, UDP or RTP having an excellent real time property is used in
the communication process, therefore, the voice quality in the communication is
improved. In addition to that, the firewall which in general does not allow the use of
arbitrary UDP port is set so that the limited and specified UDP port is usable, and the
UDP port number of that specified UDP port is stored in the telephone equipment
adapter. This way, the voice data communication process beyond the firewall is
possible. In addition to that, an usable UDP port by the firewall which in general does
not allow the use of arbitrary UDP port is scanned even if the usable UDP port is
unknown, that UDP port is searched and the voice data communication process is
possible.
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In the Embodiment 5, the internet telephone network system comprises the
UDP_communication_processing_unit 5100. The
UDP_communication_processing_unit 5100 can process UDP as a communication
protocol used in transmitting and receiving the voice data on the IP network, in the case
of making a telephone call by the telephone equipment adapter via the IP network.
The voice data is transmitted and received by the UDP.
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In addition to that, the internet telephone equipment adapter of the Embodiment 5
comprises the UDP_port_usage_managing_unit 5200. The
UDP_port_usage_managing_unit 5200 transmits and receives a voice data via the
specified UDP port by controlling and storing the specified UDP port, complying to the
firewall which plays a role of the security preventing the illegal access to the outside IP
network from the IP network managed and connected to the telephone equipment
adapter, installed at the IP network boundary, in the case of making a telephone call by
the telephone equipment adapter via the IP network. The stored UDP port is used for
the voice data communication.
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In addition to that, the telephone equipment adapter of the Embodiment 5 comprises
the UDP_port_communication_confirming_unit 5300. The
UDP_port_communication_confirming_unit 5300 checks for the availability of UDP
port for transmitting and receiving data, complying to the firewall which plays a role of
the security preventing the illegal access to the outside IP network from the IP network
managed and connected to the telephone equipment adapter, installed at the IP network
boundary, in the case of making a telephone call by the telephone equipment adapter via
the IP network. The UDP port that can transmit and receive the voice data is specified,
and that UDP port is used for the voice data communication.
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In addition to that, the telephone equipment adapter of the Embodiment 5 comprises
the RTP_communication_processing_unit 5400. The
RTP_communication_processing_unit 5400 can process the RTP as a communication
protocol used in transmitting and receiving voice data on the IP network, in the case of
making a telephone call by the telephone equipment adapter via the IP network. The
voice data is transmitted and received by the RTP.
Embodiment 6
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Each part of the telephone equipment adapter in the internet telephone network
system is described using the configuration drawings of the Embodiments 1, 2, 3, and 4.
In the Embodiment 6, the detailed inner configuration of the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 is described with reference to Fig.
23. The IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 of Fig. 23 can be applied
to the drawings of Embodiments 1, 2, 3, and 4 as it is.
-
The configuration diagram of the internet telephone network system of the
Embodiment 6 is regarded same as the network configuration shown in Fig. 17 of the
Embodiment 5.
-
Referring to Fig. 23, the reference numeral 5700 denotes a
TCP_communication_processing_unit for processing the Transmission Control Protocol
(hereinafter abbreviated to as TCP) as a communication protocol for transmitting and
receiving voice data on the IP network. The reference numeral 5800 denotes a
HTTP_communication_processing_unit for processing the Hypertext Transfer Protocol
(hereinafter abbreviated to as HTTP) as a communication protocol for transmitting and
receiving voice data on the IP network. The reference numeral 5900 denotes a
HTTP_port_communication_confirming_unit for checking the availability of HTTP
port where the data can be transmitted and received.
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The operation is described next.
-
Similar to the Embodiments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 of Embodiment 6 operates in regard
to the transmitting and receiving processes of the voice data taking place during the
communication. When a voice data is transmitted from the destination telephone
equipment adapter 22 to the telephone set 10 connected to the telephone equipment
adapter 12 via the IP network 14, the TCP_communication_processing_unit 5700
receives the IP packet of the transmitted voice data. The
TCP_communication_processing_unit 5700 takes out a packet that attaches the TCP
header and removes the IP_header from the IP packet. Next, the
HTTP_communication_processing_unit 5800 takes out a packet that attaches the HTTP
header from a packet which attaches the TCP header, and transmits the digital voice
data that has removed the HTTP header to the
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500. The
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 transmits the digital voice
data converted to analog voice data to the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100. The
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 transmits the analog voice data to
the telephone set 10. In this example, the analog voice data is transmitted to the
telephone set 10 via the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100.
Alternatively, the analog voice data can be transmitted from the
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 bypassing the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 via the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 to the telephone set 10.
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Next, let's describe the case in which the analog voice data input by the telephone
set 10 is transmitted to the destination telephone set 20 via the IP network.
-
The analog voice data itself inputted from the telephone set 10 goes through the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100, the designation identifying unit
200, and the line_connection_switching_unit 100, and is inputted to the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000. The
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 transmits the analog voice data itself
to the analog_voice_data/digital_voice_data_converting_unit 600. The
analog_voice_data/digital_voice_data_converting_unit 600 converts the analog voice
data to digital voice data. The HTTP_communication_processing_unit 5800 attaches
an HTTP header and forms a packet. Continuing on, the
TCP_communication_processing_unit 5700 creates a packet that attaches the TCP
header. The IP header is attached. This is transmitted to the destination telephone set
20 via the IP network 14 as the IP packet.
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In the Embodiment 5, the HTTP_port_communication_confirming_unit 5900
checks whether or not the UDP port is usable as shown in step S2404 of Fig. 21. If the
UDP port is not usable at all, then the HTTP_port_communication_confirming_unit
5900 takes a sequential step of checking whether the HTTP port is usable or not, and
carries out the voice data communication by HTTP if the HTTP port is usable.
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As described above, in most of the cases, the UDP port is not usable due to the
typical firewall. However, normally, the HTTP port is open, and the voice data
communication is carried out by using the HTTP message, therefore, the
communication is implemented via the IP network despite of the firewall.
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The internet telephone network system of Embodiment 6 comprises the
TCP_communication_processing_unit 5700. The
TCP_communication_processing_unit 5700 can process TCP as a communication
protocol for transmitting and receiving voice data on the IP network when making a
telephone call by the telephone equipment adapter via the IP network. This way, the
voice data is transmitted and received by the TCP.
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In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 6
comprises the HTTP_communication_processing_unit 5800. The
HTTP_communication_processing_unit 5800 can process HTTP as a communication
protocol for transmitting and receiving voice data on the IP network when making a
telephone call by the telephone equipment adapter via the IP network. This way, the
voice data is transmitted and received by the HTTP.
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In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of the Embodiment 6
comprises the HTTP_port_communication_confirming_unit 5900. The
HTTP_port_communication_confirming_unit 5900 checks for the availability of HTTP
port in which the data can be transmitted and received, complying to the firewall which
plays a role of the security preventing the illegal access to the outside IP network from
the IP network managed and connected to the telephone equipment adapter, installed at
the IP network boundary, in the case of making a telephone call by the telephone
equipment adapter via the IP network. The HTTP port in which the voice data is
transmitted and received is specified. The voice data communication is possible using
the specified HTTP port.
Embodiment 7.
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Various units of the telephone equipment adapter of the internet telephone network
system is described in the configuration drawings of Embodiments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
In the Embodiment 7, the detailed inner configuration of the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 is described with reference to Figs.
24 and 25. The IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 of Figs. 24 and 25
can be applied to the drawings of Embodiments 1,2,3,4,5, and 6 as it is.
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The configuration diagram of the network system of the Embodiment 7 is regarded
same as the network configuration shown in Fig. 17 of Embodiment 5.
-
Referring to Figs. 24 and 25, the reference numeral 5500 denotes a
voice_data_packet_encoding_unit for compressing the voice data itself, and for
changing a header of packet having a standard format such as RTP and HTTP to a
compressed header restricted down to minimum necessary information. The reference
numeral 5600 denotes a voice_data_packet_decoding_unit for decoding the compressed
voice data itself received, and analyzing the compressed header, and obtaining the
header of packet having a standard format such as RTP and HTTP. The reference
numeral 6100 denotes a receiving buffer unit for converting a digital voice data to an
analog signal, and for changing the buffer size so that the analog signal is transmitted at
a constant delayed timing, and for temporarily storing the digital voice data packet
received at a discontinuous timing due to change in the network traffic, from a
destination telephone set 20 connected to the IP network. The reference numeral 6200
denotes a transmission buffer unit for creating a digital voice data packet for
transmission in the case of transmitting the digital voice data packet to the destination
telephone set 20 connected to the IP network 14 and 24, and for performing an
additional process of creating a packet using only a required voice data accumulated in
the transmitting buffer where the buffer size can be modified before transmitting it.
The reference numeral 6300 denotes a redundant_packet_issuing_unit for transmitting a
variable number of the same voice data packet copies. When the digital voice data
packet is being transmitted to the telephone set 20 connected to the IP networks 14 and
24, the multiple copies of the same voice data packet are transmitted. This is done in
order to comply with a loss of the voice data packets that reflect on the network traffic
condition. The reference numeral 6400 denotes a packet_generation_filtering_unit for
deducing the number of voice data packet subjected to transmission for deducing the
network traffic in the case of transmitting the digital voice data packet to the telephone
set connected to the IP network 14 and 24. The reference numeral 6500 denotes a
network_traffic_monitoring_unit for monitoring the reception timing of the voice data
packet from the IP network 14. The reference numeral 6600 denotes a
network_traffic_statistical_data_managing_unit for accumulating the statistical data of
the network traffic condition, and calculates a parameter showing the average traffic
condition at a day or a weekly cycle.
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The operation is described next.
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In the similar manner as the IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 of
Embodiments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the IP_network_communication_processing_unit
5000 of Embodiment 7 operates during the communication situation of transmitting and
receiving processes of the voice data. The basic operation of the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 of Embodiment 7 is executed in the
similar manner as the IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 of
Embodiments 5 and 6. In the Embodiment 7, the voice data is transmitted to and
extracted from the RTP_communication_processing_unit 5400 and the
HTTP_communication_processing_unit 5800. The voice_data_packet_encoding_unit
5500 compresses the voice data, the HTTP header and the RTP header. The
voice_data_packet_decoding_unit 5600 decodes the voice data, the HTTP header and
the RTP header. Instead of the standardized header format, the RTP header and HTTP
header compression remake a compact header by bringing together only the minimum
necessary informations.
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In addition to that, since there are various data traffics existing on the IP network,
the voice data packets may not arrive continuously at a constant time interval. Such
variation in the arrival time of each packet is referred to as a transmission time
fluctuation. Accumulating the voice data packets in the receiving buffer upon
receiving the packets absorbs the transmission time fluctuation. The packets are then
output to the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 that is an analog side
at a constant time interval from the receiving buffer. By doing so, provided that it is
within the capacity of the receiving-buffer, the output timing of the voice data to the
output side is going to be constant even if a delay occurs in a packet such that the
regenerated voice is not broken. This process is performed at the receiving buffer unit
6100. The receiving buffer unit 6100 includes a receiving buffer 6101 that executes
the above-mentioned process. There is going to be a delay in regenerating the voice
while the voice data packets are accumulating in the receiving buffer 6101. Therefore,
the size capacity of the receiving buffer cannot always be increased since this also
increases the delay. To give an extreme example, if there are fluctuation in the arrival
times of the voice data packets transferred via the IP network, a conversation such as
"good-morning" may be heard as "goo...do...mo..or...nin...g". Whereas the "..." is
the time gap being inserted between the conversation. The time gap is referred to as
broken voice. The receiving buffer is prepared in order to compensate for the time gap.
The regeneration time as a whole is delayed. The broken voice is removed this way.
These are the receiving buffer processes. The larger the size of the receiving buffer,
the smaller the broken voice. The voice quality improves but the delay as a whole
increases, therefore, the communication timing is delayed such that it is difficult to hear.
In other words, if the receiving buffer size is increased, the fluctuation is absorbed that
the voice quality improves. On the other hand, the delay is increased to cause
difficulty in hearing them. If the receiving buffer size is decreased, the voice quality
deteriorates but the talk timing improves. The receiving buffer size is decided by the
trade-off of both characteristics. An optimum value must be set by considering them.
However, in reality, the optimal value changes depending on the network traffic
condition. At the receiving buffer unit 6100, the size capacity of the receiving buffer
6101 is changed according to the arbitrary condition. In addition to that, to comply
with a frequent occurrence of buffer overflow, the size capacity of buffer is set larger,
and only one part of the data is transmitted to the
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 that is the regenerating side.
In such cases, not only the size capacity of the receiving buffer but also the data size for
transmitting to the digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 which is
the regenerating side must be controlled and change depending on the various
conditions.
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In addition to that, likewise, in order to comply with the various data traffic
conditions on the IP network, the voice data packet size of the receiving side for
transmitting to the IP network 14 is changed. For this purpose, the transmission buffer
unit 6200 includes a transmission buffer 6201. The transmission buffer unit 6200
accumulates a certain amount of voice data at the transmission buffer 6201 before they
are transmitted. The smaller the voice data packet size for transmission the less
frequent the delay. The communication quality improves. However, each packet
always carries a header having a certain size. There is going to be a limit in making
the packet size small. In addition to that, by making the packet size small, the number
of packets increases. Therefore, the amount of network traffic is enlarged.
Accordingly, the size of receiving buffer is controlled to change depending on the
network traffic condition.
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In addition to that, likewise, in order to comply with various data traffic conditions
on the IP network, in preparation to the frequent occurrence of transmission data packet
loss in UDP communication process, there is a measure to transmit a multiple copies of
the voice data packet having an identical content as a back-up. This process is
executed by the redundant _packet_issuing_unit 6300. The redundant packets are not
always issued. There is a need to adjust the amount of redundant packets being issued
in order to delete the unnecessary packets since all the packets are delayed when the
network traffic increases. The redundant packet issuance is controlled in the case of
frequent occurrence of packet loss and when the network traffic is not increased so that
the packet loss is deduced and the communication quality increases.
-
In addition to that, likewise, in order to comply with various data traffic conditions
on the IP network, if the network traffic increases, those voice data packet that does not
affect the communication quality is not transmitted in order to deduce the amount of
transmission data. The packet _generation_filtering_unit 6400 executes such control
process. As a filtering condition, there is a set up of eliminating a voice data below a
certain volume level. As for the human perception, it is already being recognized that
there is no influence on the communication even if a volume below certain level is not
regenerated. Accordingly, when the network traffic is increased, the amount of voice
data for elimination is controlling the elimination of the level of voice data volume upon
transmission. This way, the communication continues without having to lose the
communication quality.
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In addition to that, likewise, in order to comply with various data traffic conditions
on the IP network, we have discussed the importance in carrying out various
communication controls at various units in regard to the communication process.
Herewith, in order to grasp the network traffic condition, the
network_traffic_monitoring_unit 6500 records the timing of receiving the voice data
packet intermittently. Due to this, the network traffic amount is inferred, and the
condition for the communication control above is appropriately changed. For example,
for the case of receiving buffer unit 6100, if the network_traffic_monitoring_unit 6500
recognizes that the network traffic is increased, it notifies the receiving buffer unit 6100
to increase the size capacity of the receiving buffer 6101. If the receiving buffer size
capacity is increased, the packets are handed over to the
digital_voice_data/analog_voice_data_converting_unit 500 after a certain amount of the
packets are accumulated in the receiving buffer 6101. The network traffic is resolved
this way. On contrary, if the network traffic is less, since the packet arrives to the
telephone equipment adapter at a stable timing therefore, the
network_traffic_monitoring_unit 6500 notifies to the receiving buffer unit 6100 to
decrease the size capacity of the receiving buffer 6101.
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In addition to that, likewise, in order to comply with various data traffic conditions
on the IP network, a statistical data are used to change various parameters. These
parameters control the communication above. The monitored and accumulated data at
the network_traffic_monitoring_unit 6500 is received by the
network_traffic_statistical_data_managing_unit 6600. The
network_traffic_statistical_data_managing_unit 6600 supplies information to control
communication that is needed by the receiving buffer unit 6100, the transmission buffer
unit 6200, the redundant_packet_issuing_unit 6300, and the
packet_generation_filtering_unit 6400. The
network_traffic_statistical_data_managing_unit 6600 presents a trend of average
network traffic at one-day cycle or a weekly cycle. The information is referred and
used to carry out communication control by various units.
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In the configuration drawing shown in Fig. 24, the communication processing unit
includes the RTP_communication_processing_unit 5400 and the
UDP_communication_processing_unit 5100. In the configuration drawing shown in
Fig. 25, the communication processing unit includes the
TCP_communication_processing_unit 5700 and the
HTTP_communication_processing_unit 5800. The following units are shared in the
configuration drawings of Figs. 24 and 25: the receiving buffer unit 6100; the
transmission buffer unit 6200; the packet _generation_filtering_unit 6400; the
network_traffic_monitoring_unit 6500; and the
network_traffic_statistical_data_managing_unit 6600. The
redundant_packet_issuing_unit 6300 is only included in the configuration drawing of
Fig. 24. This is because the redundant_packet_issuing_unit 6300 relates to the
UDP_communication_processing_unit 5100. Since it carries a characteristic of
transmitting the data to the destination without establishing the UDP session, the UDP
itself does not have a function to deal with packet loss even if the packet loss is frequent.
This being the case, the redundant_packet_issuing_unit 6300 is provided for supporting
the UDP. On the other hand, TCP carries a characteristic of re-try many times until the
data is definitely communicated since it starts communication after the session is
established. This being the case, TCP does no need to support re-try function. This
is the reason why the telephone equipment adapter of Fig. 25 does not include the
redundant_packet_issuing_unit 6300.
-
Accordingly, the headers of communication voice data packet is individually
compressed. Such that the packet size can be made smaller than its standard size.
The network traffic is deduced. What is meant by the individual compression is, for
example, the packet size is made small by using the header information compression
program. It indicates compressing only those data needed by the telephone equipment
adapter that is the element of the present invention.
-
In addition to that, even if there are fluctuation in the transmission time of each
voice data packet subject to communication, the voice data packets are accumulated
until they attain a certain size upon reception, and transmitted to the analog regeneration
side, therefore, even if the network traffic condition is unstable, a stable communication
quality is maintained.
-
In addition to that, upon transmitting each voice data packet subjected to
communication, the packet size is made small if the amount of network traffic is less,
and the packet size is made large if the network traffic is more. Even if the network
traffic condition is unstable, a stable communication quality is maintained without
influencing the network traffic.
-
In addition to that, the redundant packet is issued upon a frequent occurrence of the
packet loss upon transmitting each voice data packet subjected to communication,
therefore, a stable communication quality is maintained even in the condition when the
packet loss is frequent due to the network traffic.
-
In addition to that, if the amount of network traffic is increased upon transmitting
each voice data packet subjected to communication, those voice data packet that do not
affect the communication quality such as those below a certain volume level are not
transmitted, therefore, a stable communication quality is maintained despite of
increased amount of network traffic.
-
In addition to that, various parameters in the communication processes described
above are adjusted according to the estimated network traffic condition and the
measured receiving timing of each voice data packet subjected to communication,
therefore, the optimal communication process is possible responding the updated
condition of the network traffic. A stable communication quality is maintained.
-
In addition to that, the results of measured timing of receiving each voice data
packet subjected to communication are accumulated, and it is referred to as a data for
showing the network traffic condition at a day cycle or a weekly cycle, therefore, the
optimal communication process is controlled responding to the average network traffic
condition. A stable communication quality is maintained.
-
In the Embodiment 7, the internet telephone network system comprises the
voice_data _packet_encoding_unit 5500 and the voice_data_packet_decoding_unit 5600.
The voice_data_packet_encoding_unit 5500 compresses the voice data itself, and
transmits the voice data by changing a packet having a standard format such as RTP and
HTTP to a compressed header restricted to the least necessary information upon the
destination telephone equipment adapter is recognized as of the same type as the other
telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter. The
voice_data_packet_decoding_unit 5600 obtains a packet header having a standard
format such as RTP or HTTP, and analyzes the compressed header by decoding the
compressed voice data received. By deducing the amount of data, the communication
data is efficiently transmitted and received.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 7
comprises the receiving buffer unit 6100 for temporarily storing the digital voice data
packets received at discontinuous timing due to the change in the network traffic from
the destination telephone set via the IP network to the receiving buffer in which the
buffer size is changeable so that the digital voice data packets converted to analog
signals are transmitted from the telephone equipment adapter to the telephone set at a
constant delay. This way, the analog voice signals are transmitted to the telephone set
at a stable timing.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 7
comprises the transmission buffer unit 6200 for creating the digital voice data packet
subjected to transmission, in the case of transmitting the digital voice data packet to the
destination telephone set via the IP network, for accumulating them in the transmitting
buffer in which its buffer size is changeable, and for reassembling only the necessary
data before transmitting it. The optimal digital voice data packet transmission is
implemented in accordance to the network traffic condition, and the voice data with an
excellent quality is possible.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 7
comprises the redundant _packet_issuing_unit 6300 for transmitting a multiple copies of
the same voice data packet to comply with the voice data packet loss occurring due to
the network traffic condition, in the case of transmitting the digital voice data packet to
the destination telephone set via the IP network. This way, the excellent quality voice
data is transmitted despite of the unfavorable network traffic condition causing the
packet loss.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 7
comprises the packet_generation_filtering_unit 6400 for deducing the number of voice
data packets subjected to transmission in order to deduce the network traffic as much as
possible, in the case of transmitting the digital voice data packet to the destination
telephone set via the IP network. This way, an increase in the network traffic due to
the increased number of voice data is suppressed and the excellent quality voice data is
transmitted.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 7
comprises the network_traffic_monitoring_unit 6500 for monitoring the timing of
receiving the voice data packets via the IP network. The
network_traffic_monitoring_unit 6500 analyzes the network traffic condition, and
instructs the operation condition of various units including the receiving buffer unit
6100, the transmission buffer unit 6200, the redundant_packet_issuing_unit 6300, and
the packet_generation_filtering_unit 6400, after having detected a certain condition on
the network. The optimal transmission/reception processes are implemented
responding to the network traffic condition. The excellent quality voice data is
transmitted.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 7 utilizes
the network_traffic_statistical_data_managing_unit 6600 to calculate parameters
indicating the average traffic condition at a day or weekly cycle, by accumulating the
statistical data of network traffic condition received from the
network_traffic_monitoring_unit 6500 which monitors the timing of receiving the voice
data packets via the IP network. The network_traffic_statistical_data_managing_unit
6600 is used to instruct the change in the operation conditions of the following units: the
receiving buffer unit 6100; the transmission buffer unit 6200; the
redundant_packet_issuing_unit 6300; and the packet_generation_filtering_unit 6400.
This way, the optimal transmission/reception processes are implemented in response to
the average network traffic condition. The excellent quality in voice data is
transmitted.
Embodiment 8
-
In the internet telephone network system of Embodiment 8 equipped with a HTTP
relay server for transmitting communication information to the destination telephone set
without having to be aware of the firewall, even if the destination network environment
is protected by the firewall.
-
The drawing of Fig. 26 shows a network configuration of the Embodiment 8.
-
Referring to Fig. 26, the reference numeral 18 denotes a HTTP relay server. Refer
to Fig. 17 for the description of other reference numerals.
-
The drawing of Fig. 27 shows a configuration of various units of the internet
telephone network system of Embodiment 8 comprising the HTTP relay server.
-
Referring to Fig. 27, the reference numeral 5700 denotes a
TCP_communication_processing_unit for transmitting and receiving data via the IP
network 19 by using TCP. The reference numeral 5800 denotes a
HTTP_communication_processing_unit for receiving data packet from the
TCP_communication_processing_unit 5700, analyzes it as the HTTP message, and
assembles the HTTP message for transmitting to the
TCP_communication_processing_unit 5700. The reference numeral 5600 denotes a
voice_data_packet_decoding_unit for analyzing the voice data packet obtained from the
HTTP_communication_processing_unit 5800, and for extracting the coded voice data.
The reference numeral 5500 denotes a voice_data_packet_encoding_unit for assembling
the coded voice data subjected for transmission into a packet, and transmitting it to the
HTTP_communication_processing_unit 5800. The reference numeral 8100 denotes a
voice_data_buffering_unit for temporarily storing the voice data obtained from the
voice_data_packet_decoding_unit 5600, and for transmitting it to the
voice_data_packet_encoding_unit 5500 upon extracting the voice data at HTTP access.
What is meant by the HTTP access is that by supposing that the HTTP relay server is
the Web server, the telephone equipment adapter is assumed to have the Web browser in
it, so that each telephone equipment adapter can transmit voice data to the HTTP relay
server by using POST message at the HTTP. In addition to that, each telephone
equipment adapter can get a location of whereabouts the accumulated voice data that are
outputted from the telephone set connected to each telephone equipment adapter by
using the G ET message. The voice data is temporarily held in the HTTP relay server.
The telephone equipment adapter connected to another telephone set requiring that
voice data go and gets them, and the communication process is implemented.
-
The reference numeral 8200 denotes a
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit for confirming if the information
regarding the telephone call is being made to each telephone set from the telephone
equipment adapter and for responding if there is an inquiry from each telephone
equipment adapter.
The reference numeral 8300 denotes an HTTP_connection_changing_unit. In case
that we connect two telephone equipment adapters (for example, the telephone
equipment adapter 12 connected to the telephone set 10, and the telephone equipment
adapter 22 connected to the telephone set 20 about a communication between the
telephone set 10 and the telephone set 20) to the HTTP relay server 18, the
HTTP_connection_changing_unit 8300 changes the HTTP relay server 18 to a Web
server, each of the two telephone equipment adapters to a Web browser.
The reference numeral 8400 denotes a TCP/IP_packet_header_alteration_unit. The
telephone equipment adapter connected to the calling side telephone set transmits a
voice data packet to the HTTP relay server 18. The
TCP/IP_packet_header_alteration_unit 8400 converts the TCP header port number and
the IP address of the IP header inside the voice data to a port number and an IP address
of the telephone equipment adapter of the final destination.
-
The drawing of Fig. 28 shows an inner configuration of the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 of Embodiment 8. The
IP_network_communication_processing_unit 5000 in Fig. 28 can be applied to the
equivalent parts of the Embodiments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 as it is.
-
Referring to Fig. 28, the reference numeral 7300 denotes an HTTP telephone call for
transmitting telephone call information to the HTTP relay server 18 by using HTTP
access. The reference numeral 7100 denotes an HTTP polling unit for checking the
communication situation of the destination telephone equipment adapter stored in the
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit 8200 by using inquiry information
by means of HTTP access polling. The reference numeral 7200 denotes a
telephone_call_communication_unit for reporting that the destination telephone
equipment adapter is receiving a telephone call when the
telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300 detects that the destination
telephone equipment adapter is protected by firewall.
-
The drawings of Figs. 29 and 30 show the first and the second examples of various
units of the HTTP_relay_server_managing_server of the internet telephone network
system of the Embodiment 8.
-
Referring to Figs. 29 and 30, the reference numeral 9200 denotes a
HTTP_relay_server_assigning_unit for monitoring the load situation of the plurality of
HTTP relay servers. The reference numeral 9100 denotes a
HTTP_relay_server_load_monitoring_unit for specifying the HTTP relay server used in
the communication process based on the inquiry from the telephone equipment adapter.
-
In the first example of Fig. 29, a plurality of the HTTP relay servers 18 shown in Fig.
27 are prepared, and the HTTP_relay_server_managing_server for managing them is
described. In the second example of Fig. 30, the HTTP relay server 18 extracts the
processing units required in negotiating connection with the telephone equipment
adapter. The processing units extracted is built into the
HTTP_relay_server_managing_server 180. The
HTTP_relay_server_managing_server 180 carries out the connection negotiation. In
this case, after negotiating connection, the voice data transmission and reception
processes are performed only in the TCP/IP_packet_header_alteration_unit 8400.
Therefore, the HTTP relay server only builds in the
TCP/IP_packet_header_alteration_unit 8400.
-
The operation is described next.
-
To begin with, the network configuration comprising the telephone equipment
adapter and the HTTP relay server is shown in Fig. 31. The drawing of Fig. 31 (A)
shows a method of executing the HTTP relay server by assuming it as a provider.
There are two methods of checking if a telephone call is being made to the telephone set
connected to the telephone equipment adapter. The method one is checking
information stored in the telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit 8200 by a
periodic polling. The telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit 8200 is a
management area of the HTTP relay server 18. Alternatively, the method two includes
checking from outside by mailing, by instant message, and by PSTN_call.
-
In the drawing of Fig. 31 (B), the telephone equipment adapters 12 and 22 are in the
network environments protected by the firewalls 17 and 27. The-network-environment
provided with external WWW server or proxy is protected by the same firewall. In
such environment, the HTTP relay server program is executed in the external WWW
server.
-
In the drawing of Fig. 31 (C), a telephone terminal that can communicate with a
dedicated terminal (i.e., terminal executing the HTTP relay server program) is placed in
the network environment protected by the firewall. The method of communication
between the dedicated terminal and the telephone terminal is considered.
-
The present embodiment indicates three configuration (A), (B), and (C). The
configuration (A) is described based on the flow charts of Figs. 32 and 33. The
configuration (A) is the polling method of executing the HTTP relay server at the
provider.
-
The procedure of making a telephone call from one telephone equipment adapter to
the other telephone equipment adapter starts as follows. First of all, the user picks up
the receiver of the telephone set calling side and inputs a telephone number. The
telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300 translates the inputted telephone
number to the IP address. Refer to Embodiment 1 for the method of translating to the
IP address.
-
(The Polling Method) In step S22 of Fig. 33, the telephone number is translated to
IP address. If translated properly to IP address in step S23, then in step S62, the HTTP
telephone call 7300 sets a flag information related to IP address trying to make a
telephone call. The flag is set in the management area of each IP address of the
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit 8200 inside the HTTP relay server
18. The management area of each IP address of the
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit 8200 is periodically referred by the
HTTP polling unit 7100 of the communication destination telephone equipment adapter.
Such that the telephone equipment adapter connected to the destination telephone set
will know that the telephone call is being received.
-
(Mail and Instant Messages) The telephone number translated to IP address is
confirmed in step S23 of Fig. 33. Next, the telephone_call_communication_unit 7200
transmits a mail or instant message to the communication destination telephone
equipment adapter, and notifies to the destination telephone set that the telephone call is
received. The process of the mail or the instant message is not particularly illustrated
in the flow charts of Figs. 32 and 33.
-
(Notified by telephone call via PSTN) The telephone number is translated to IP
address properly in step S23 of Fig. 33. Next, the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 makes a telephone call to the
destination telephone set from the PSTN side. The telephone equipment adapter
connected to the destination telephone set will know instantly that the telephone call is
being received.
-
Then, the destination telephone equipment adapter transmits a call tone to a
telephone set connected for commencing the communication (Step S66). If the
receiver of the destination telephone set of the call receiving side is picked up in steps
S63 and S67, then the communication mode is entered in step S64, and their respective
telephone equipment adapters go and get the destination communication data.
Depending on the requirement, the communication data spoken by them are transmitted
to the HTTP relay server in steps S65 and S68. This continues on until disconnected.
The unit where the communication data transmitted from the telephone equipment
adapter is temporarily stored until the other telephone equipment adapter gets them is
the voice data buffer. The voice_data_buffering_unit 8100 executes the transmission
and reception process of the voice data of this communication. The steps S66, S67,
and S68 of Fig. 32 are the procedure of receiving a telephone call, entering the
communication mode, communication taking place, and continuing communication.
The steps S62, S63, S64, and S65 are the procedure of making a telephone call to the
destination telephone set, picking up the receiver of the destination telephone set is to
enter the communication mode, and the communication goes on until disconnected.
Two telephone sets communicating via the HTTP relay server is same for both cases of
receiving a call and making a call. The communication data transmission and
reception processes via the HTTP relay server by two telephone sets in the
communication mode described above is equivalent to the process from step S66 to S68
of Fig. 32 and step S62 to S65 of Fig. 33.
-
Next, a flow chart of Fig. 34 describes the polling method by using the HTTP relay
server.
-
The HTTP relay server 18 only accepts HTTP access among from the outside access
via the IP network. In step S70 of Fig. 34, the HTTP_communication_processing_unit
5800 confirms that the data is received by using HTTP access. The HTTP access
exists just in the polling method for confirming if a telephone call is being made to itself
from each telephone equipment adapter. Other than that, the following accesses exist:
the access for making a new telephone call to other telephone set; the access for
obtaining the voice data for itself; and the HTTP access for liaison disconnection
communication. In step S71, when the HTTP access decides to make a new telephone
call to other telephone set, then the telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit
8200 accesses the communication destination management area, and checks if the
telephone is in the communication in progress in step S75. If the telephone is in the
communication in progress mode, then HTTP message indicating communication in
progress is replied in step S76 and S77, if not, the HTTP message indicating that the
telephone started to ring is replied in step S78. If the communication mode is entered,
the voice data delivered from the telephone equipment adapter are temporarily
accumulated in step S79. The voice_data_buffering_unit 8100 manages so that the
other telephone equipment adapter collects them. If there are communication data in
the destination voice data buffering area, then in step S80, the
voice_data_buffering_unit 8100 and the HTTP_communication_processing_unit 5800
transmits that communication data as the HTTP reply message to the telephone
equipment adapter connected to the communication destination telephone set. In
addition to the process of step S71, if HTTP access for confirming whether or not the
telephone call is being made to its telephone equipment adapter, the
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit 8200 checks the management
information if the telephone set is ringing connected to the telephone equipment adapter
of the confirmation requesting origin in step S72. As a result of checking, if the
telephone call is being made in step S73, then in step S74, the
HTTP_communication_processing_unit 5800 transmits the information to the telephone
equipment adapter connected to the telephone set of the confirmation requesting origin.
In addition to the process of step S71, if decided as HTTP access for disconnecting the
communication, then in step S81, the
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit 8200 changes the information to
indicate that both management information of communication origin and destination are
in the waiting mode.
-
As described above, a typical firewall can access to the outside Internet by using
HTTP, and the telephone equipment adapter can carry out the communication process
and telephone call via the HTTP relay server, therefore, the telephone call is made via
the IP network without having to modify the set up of the typical firewall.
-
The HTTP relay server carries out communication data transmission and reception
after negotiating process of connecting to the first telephone equipment adapter. This
process load is going to be a heavy one. Henceforth, the communication data
transmission and reception are carried out directly between the telephone equipment
adapters without bypassing the HTTP relay server. The load put on the HTTP relay
server is reduced this way. Even if many users make telephone calls so that the
process concentrates, the process continues and the communication quality is
maintained. Due to this, the HTTP_connection_changing_unit 8300 negotiates the
first connection and changes the connection from the HTTP and TCP connection to the
connection between both adapters.
-
As described above, the communication data transmission and reception is carried
out directly between the telephone equipment adapters without bypassing the HTTP
relay server. This reduces the load put on the HTTP relay server. Even if the
communication process concentrates due to many users making telephone calls, the
process continues, and the communication quality is maintained.
-
In addition to the HTTP relay server described above, it also carries out
communication data transmission and reception after negotiation process of connecting
to the first telephone equipment adapter. This process load is going to be a heavy one.
In order to reduce the load put on the HTTP relay server, the process performed by the
HTTP relay server is limited down as much as possible by executing the simple
processes only. This is executed by the TCP/IP_packet_header_alteration_unit 8400
for directly converting the port number of TCP header and IP address of IP header
inside the transmitted voice data packet from both telephone equipment adapters to the
HTTP relay server to the port number and IP address of the final transmission
destination telephone equipment adapter, at a point when the communication process
preparation is ready by connecting both telephone equipment adapters communicating
by the HTTP relay server.
-
As described above, as the process on the HTTP relay server, the communication
data transmission and reception are carried out by converting the port number of TCP
header and IP address of IP header inside the transmitted voice data packet from both
telephone equipment adapters to the HTTP relay server to the port number and IP
address of the final transmission destination telephone equipment adapter. This can
reduce the load put on the HTTP relay server. Even if the communication process
concentrates due to many users making telephone calls, the process continues, and the
communication quality is maintained.
-
On the other hand, in order to carry out an efficient communication process at the
HTTP relay server, if a number of telephone equipment adapters requesting the
communication process increased accompanied by the increased number of the users,
since there is a performance limit in one HTTP relay server, it will fail at some point.
Therefore, a plurality of HTTP relay servers is prepared. A favorable communication
is maintained to various by dispersing the communication process of various telephone
equipment adapters.
-
A HTTP_relay_server_managing_server for integrating and managing the plurality
of HTTP relay servers is required. The relationship between the
HTTP_relay_server_managing_server and the HTTP relay server is illustrated in the
drawings of Figs. 29 and 30. A first telephone equipment adapter inquires the
HTTP_relay_server_managing_server 180. The
HTTP_relay_server_load_monitoring_unit 9100 for monitoring the load situation on the
plurality of HTTP relay servers finds the HTTP relay server having a small number of
users. The HTTP_relay_server_assigning_unit 9200 specifies the candidate HTTP
relay server to be used for the communication process.
-
Accordingly, if the number of telephone sets connected to the telephone equipment
adapter increases dramatically, the HTTP_relay_server_load_monitoring_unit 9100
prepares the plurality of HTTP relay servers, and monitors an appropriate number of
HTTP relay server's load situation, and allocates the usable HTTP relay server. The
communication process is dispersed, and the process load of the HTTP relay server is
confined within it capacity, Therefore, even if many users make telephone calls so that
communication process concentrate, the process continues and the communication
quality is maintained.
-
The internet telephone network system of the Embodiment 8 comprises the HTTP
relay server and the internet connection apparatus where the HTTP communication
process is possible, which includes the followings: the
TCP_communication_processing_unit 5700, the
HTTP_communication_processing_unit 5800, the voice_data_packet_encoding_unit
5500, the voice_data_packet_decoding_unit 5600, the
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit 8200, the voice_data_buffering_unit
8100. The internet connection apparatus is placed as an arbitrary terminal on the
internet not protected by the firewall. The voice data received by HTTP access via the
IP network from one of the telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter
through the firewall that allows passage of HTTP data communication. The voice data
transmission and reception process between two telephone sets protected by firewall is
possible via the HTTP relay server.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of the Embodiment 8
comprises the HTTP telephone call 7300. If the
telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300 detects that the destination
telephone equipment adapter is protected by the firewall, upon making a telephone call
from a telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter via the Internet, in
order to report that a telephone call is being made to the communication destination
telephone equipment adapter, the HTTP telephone call 7300 transmits the telephone cal
information by the HTTP access, and HTTP is accessed from the destination telephone
equipment adapter which notifies that the telephone call is being made from arbitrary
unit to the destination telephone equipment adapter. This way, the voice data on the
HTTP relay server is received, and its reverse process which is transmission and
reception process of the voice data is also possible.
-
In addition to that, according to the internet telephone network system of
Embodiment 8, if the telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300 detects that
the destination telephone equipment adapter is protected by the firewall, upon making a
telephone call from a telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter via
the Internet, in order to report that a telephone call is being made to the communication
destination telephone equipment adapter, the HTTP polling unit 7100 checks the
communication situation of various telephone stored in the
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit 8200. As a result of checking, the
HTTP relay server is receiving a call at appropriate time interval. At this point, the
telephone equipment adapter call receiving side can make a telephone call via the HTTP
relay server made possible by the HTTP access.
-
In addition to that, according to the internet telephone network system of
Embodiment 8, if the telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300 detects that
the destination telephone equipment adapter is protected by the firewall, upon making a
telephone call from a telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter via
the Internet, in order to report that a telephone call is being made to the communication
destination telephone equipment adapter, the telephone_call_communication_unit 7200
transmits telephone cal using communication method such as mail message or instant
message that passes through the firewall, so that the call receiving side telephone
equipment adapter can make a telephone call via the HTTP relay server made possible
by the HTTP access.
-
In addition to that, according to the internet telephone network system of
Embodiment 8, if the telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300 detects that
the destination telephone equipment adapter is protected by the firewall, upon making a
telephone call from a telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter via
the Internet, in order to report that a telephone call is being made to the communication
destination telephone equipment adapter, the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 only transmits the telephone call
information via a temporary PSTN line, and the call receiving side telephone equipment
adapter can make a telephone call via the HTTP relay server made possible by the
HTTP access.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of the Embodiment 8
comprises the HTTP_connection_changing_unit 8300. A telephone call is made from
the telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter via the Internet. The
communication process is ready both telephone equipment adapters are connected by
the HTTP relay server. At this point, the HTTP_connection_changing_unit 8300
changes the HTTP connection between the both telephone equipment adapters and the
HTTP relay server, and creates a HTTP connection directly between both telephone
equipment adapters.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of the Embodiment 8
comprises the TCP/IP_packet_header_alteration_unit 8400. A telephone call is made
from the telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter via the Internet.
The communication process is ready when the HTTP relay server connects both
telephone equipment adapters. At this point, the
TCP/IP_packet_header_alteration_unit 8400 alters the IP address of IP header unit and
a port number of the TCP header contained in the voice data packets transferred from
both telephone equipment adapters to the HTTP relay server. They are altered to the
IP address and port number of the final transmission destination of the telephone
equipment adapter. The processing speed via the HTTP relay server for carrying out
the voice data communication between both telephone equipment adapter is increased.
-
In addition to that, the internet telephone network system of the Embodiment 8
comprises the HTTP_relay_server_load_monitoring_unit 9100 and the
HTTP_relay_server_assigning_unit 9200. When the number of telephone sets
connected to the telephone equipment adapter for performing HTTP access to the HTTP
relay server increases extremely, then the HTTP_relay_server_load_monitoring_unit
9100 monitors the load situation by preparing a plurality of HTTP relay server. This
way, the HTTP relay server process load is contained within the limit of its performance.
The HTTP_relay_server_assigning_unit 9200 specifies the HTTP relay server used in
the communication process by inquiry from the first telephone equipment adapter.
Embodiment 9
-
In the Embodiment 9, the telephone equipment adapters connected to the telephone
sets mutually transmit their terminal names to one another upon disconnecting the
communication.
-
The drawing of Fig. 35 shows a configuration of the telephone equipment adapter of
Embodiment 9.
-
Referring to Fig. 35, the reference numeral 420 denotes a
IP_address_information_message_transmitting/receiving_unit for exchanging messages
between the telephone equipment adapters by using SMTP protocol, regarding the IP
address information. The
IP_address_information_message_transmitting/receiving_unit 420 is also referred to as
IP address information message processing unit. In addition to that, the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 has a function to transmits the
terminal name to the telephone equipment adapter connected to a telephone set. In
addition to that, the address translation table is a table for storing the telephone number
and terminal name by mapping.
-
In the recent years, inside the company, in order to cut down on the IP address, there
are many cases in which the IP address is dynamically allocated to DHCP (which stands
for Dynamic Host Configulation Protocol) server or router. In addition to that, in the
dial up configuration, there are cases in which the IP addresses are allocated
dynamically. In this case, in order to specify the destination telephone equipment
adapter upon calling, the terminal name is used to recognize the telephone equipment
adapter instead of the IP address.
-
By mutually transmitting and receiving the IP addresses to the communication
destination by using the mail protocol by specifying the terminal name upon calling, it
becomes possible to specify the IP address for the later communication process.
-
In the Embodiment 2, the IP address of the communication destination telephone
equipment adapter connected to a telephone set is obtained upon disconnecting the
communication by using the IP_address_learning_unit 400 which is included in the
designation identifying unit 200. Its own IP address is notified to the destination
telephone equipment adapter from its telephone equipment adapter. In the
Embodiment 9, the terminal names attached to the telephone equipment adapters are
mutually exchanged by the
IP_address_information_message_transmitting/receiving_units 420 instead of
exchanging the IP addresses upon disconnection. The received terminal name is
mapped to the telephone number and stored in the address translation table 302. When
making a telephone call to the destination telephone set after receiving the terminal
name, since the IP address is being allocated and mapped to the terminal name, the
telephone call can be made via the IP network.
-
The internet telephone network system of Embodiment 9, a telephone call is made
to a telephone set connected to the telephone equipment adapter from another telephone
set connected to the same kind of telephone equipment adapter by inputting a telephone
number of conventional general PSTN line. The telephone call is made via the PSTN
line, the IP_address_learning_units 400-mutually transmit the terminal names upon
disconnection.
The address translation table 302 learns and stores the terminal name and telephone
number of the typical conventional PSTN line. The
IP_address_information_message_transmitting/receiving_unit 420 exchanges the IP
address information message between the telephone equipment adapters by using
protocol such as SMTP (which stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). This way,
the next telephone call is automatically made via the IP network.
Embodiment 10
-
In the Embodiment 10, an another method of dynamic allocation of IP address of the
telephone equipment adapter that is different from the Embodiment 9 is described.
-
Fig. 36 shows a configuration drawing of various units in the telephone equipment
adapter of Embodiment 10.
-
Referring to Fig. 36, the reference numeral 5001 denotes a
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit for performing communication process via
the IP network on the dial up connection by using protocol such as PPP (which stands
for Point-to-Point tunneling Protocol) via the PSTN line.
-
The PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit 5001 of Embodiment 9 makes a
telephone call by replacing the process described in Embodiments 1 and 2 via the IP
network with the communication process on the dial up connection.
-
The internet telephone network system of Embodiment 10 comprises the
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit 5001 for performing the communication
process via the IP network on the dial up connection that uses protocol such as PPP via
the PSTN line. A telephone call can be made to a telephone set connected to telephone
equipment adapter by replacing the process via the IP network with the communication
process on the dial up connection.
Embodiment 11
-
In the Embodiment 11, the telephone equipment adapter for making a telephone call
by replacing the process via the IP network with the communication process on the
serial port connected to the terminal adapter.
-
The drawing of Fig. 37 shows a configuration of various units in the telephone
equipment adapter for the Embodiment 11.
-
Referring to Fig. 37, the reference numeral 5002 denotes a
serial_port_communication_processing_unit for performing the communication process
via the IP network on the dialup connection by protocol such as PPP via a typical PSTN
line by connecting a typical terminal adapter to the serial port such as RS232C. The
telephone equipment adapter 12 is connected to the serial port cable 33. Refer to Fig.
9 of Embodiment 2 for the description of other reference numerals.
-
The internet telephone network system of the Embodiment 11 comprises the
serial_port_communication_processing_unit 5002 for performing the communication
process via the IP network by connecting a typical terminal adapter which can perform
dialup connection using protocol such as PPP via the PSTN line to the serial port such
as RS232C. The process via the IP network is replaced with the communication
process on the serial port connected to the terminal adapter.
Embodiment 12
-
According to the previously described Embodiments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and
11, the communication device such as telephone set outputs the communication
information inputted to the telephone equipment adapter. However, the
communication device is not limited to the telephone set only, but a personal computer
or cellular phone may be adapted.
Embodiment 13
-
As already described in the Embodiment 2, in both cases of making a telephone call
and receiving a telephone call, the telephone equipment adapter learns the
communication destination's IP address. It is most likely that the calling side will
make the telephone call again to the same destination. However, if receiving a
telephone call, the likelihood of making a telephone call to the calling side is not
necessary high. Such examples includes a salesman making a telephone call or
making a telephone call inquiring for a specific information. In these cases, the call
receiving side does not make a call back to the call making side. If so many of such
calls are being made, the entries of the address translation table 302 may be over-written
due to storing the IP addresses of the undesired destination.
-
Henceforth, the address translation table of the telephone equipment adapter
receiving many such calls is set so that the such undesired destination IP address is not
learned.
-
Accordingly, the process method of not learning the IP address is adapted when
receiving too many such telephone calls. However, it would be convenient for if the
user if s/he can change the set up of this process method of not learning the IP address.
The telephone equipment adapter is set so that the user can make selection of learning
the destination IP address if received a telephone call. Using the previously described
maintenance function does this. Alternatively, if the user is making a telephone call,
the user can input an address learning prevention information by using the dial or push
phone, which instructs not to learn the IP address. The address learning prevention
information is input before or after inputting the telephone number. The address
learning prevention information is previously set to the pre-determined dial or pre-determined
push button telephone set. The
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 detects the address learning
prevention information and notifies to the IP_address_learning_unit 400 not to learn the
IP address. Accordingly, the IP address of the communication destination is not
learned.
-
The Embodiment 2 described one example of the internet telephone network
systems comprising the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit for learning address
information from both call making side and call receiving side. The Embodiment 13
describes one example of the internet telephone network systems comprising the
PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit for not learning address information of the call
making side at the call receiving side.
-
In addition to that, it is also possible to construct the internet telephone network
system where a mode set up in the PSTN_line_signal_processing_unit is possible by
enabling the user to select two modes. Mode one is to carry out the learning process of
the IP address learning unit for learning the address information of the call making side
and call receiving side. Mode two is to not carry out the learning process of the IP
address learning unit for learning address information of communication of the call
making side at the call receiving side.
Embodiment 14
-
In the Embodiment 14, the system of mutually exchanging the IP address after
finishing the communication as in the Embodiment 2 is further described in detail.
-
The drawing of Fig. 38 outlines a configuration of two users communicating by
using telephone sets and telephone equipment adapters of the present embodiment.
-
Referring to Fig. 38, the reference numeral 1110 denotes a
telephone_line_interface_control_circuit, which tentatively combines the
PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100, the
line_connection_switching_unit 100, and the designation identifying unit 200.
-
After finishing the communication, a user puts the receiver back to the telephone set
after an appropriate time elapses. This receiver's situation is in general called on-hook.
In contrast to that, a situation of the receiver being picked up is called off-hook. If the
on-hook situation is transmitted to the exchanger of the PSTN_line as it is, the
exchanger disconnects the communication line so that the IP address information cannot
be exchanged. The PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 of the
telephone equipment adapter detects the on-hook situation of the telephone set, and the
telephone_line_interface_control_circuit 1110 switches the PSTN circuit for indicating
that the of-hook situation of the telephone set is indicated. In other words, the
telephone set itself at this point is separate from the PSTN line, and the telephone
equipment adapter is directly connected to the PSTN line instead of the telephone set.
-
Accordingly, even after the user puts the receiver back to finish the communication,
the connection is held on for transmitting and receiving the IP address information.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
Immediately after two users finish the communication and on-hook the receivers, the
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit maintains the connection on the PSTN line
and transmits an address information corresponding to the identification information.
The address information of the telephone set of the communication information
transmitting side is transmitted to the destination of transmitting the communication
information telephone set via the PSTN line.
-
The drawing of Fig. 39 shows one example of sequential procedure of transmitting
and receiving the IP address information. In this example, a telephone set A makes a
call to a telephone set B. The sequence is indicated from (1) to (9). The telephone
set B which receives a call transmits a disconnect tone which is going to be an indicator
for a start of the first process (1). At a point of transmitting the disconnect tone which
is the first indicator, the users at both telephone sets must on-hook the receiver. After
finishing communication, a sufficient amount of time needed to put the receiver back by
the user, for example, wait for about 5 seconds and then the first disconnect tone is
transmitted. By doing so, the transmitting and receiving of the IP address will be
successful mostly. If the disconnect tone is transmitted while the telephone set A is
still in on-hook situation, the process will fail, therefore, the IP address is transmitted
and received from the next call onwards.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
Immediately after one of the users finishes the communication and on-hook the receiver,
the PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit maintains the connection on the PSTN
line after waiting for a sufficient amount of time needed to on-hook the receiver by the
other user, and transmits an address information corresponding to the identification
information of the telephone set from the communication information transmitting side
to the destination of transmitting the communication-information via the PSTN line.
-
In addition to that, after finishing communication, a busy tone (which is a tone
indicating communication in progress mode) is transmitted to the communication
destination telephone set from the telephone equipment adapter connected to it when the
telephone set is on-hooked. This is done so that the on-hook operation of the receiver
will be in time for the start of the IP address transmission and reception process after
finishing communication. The users in general are accustomed to putting back the
receiver if s/he hears a busy tone rather than not hearing any sound at all.
Alternatively, it may be effective to use a high note alarm tone instead of the busy tone.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
Immediately after two users on-hook the receiver to finish the communication, the
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit transmit a tone such as a busy tone from
the telephone equipment adapter of the other user to the telephone set, so that the other
user still hanging onto the receiver will know that the communication is finished and
on-hooks the receiver.
-
In addition to that, while the IP address transmission and reception process are in
progress, immediate use of the telephone set straight after finishing the communication
is not possible. As the telephone equipment adapter process, if the IP address
transmission and reception process starts, the connection is not switched to the PSTN
line to the telephone set side until the process completely finishes. In order to notify
the user of such situation, the user is notified by using a busy tone to alarm them that the
communication cannot be used while the IP address transmission and reception
processes are in progress. If the off-hook operation of the receiver of the telephone set
is detected during the IP address transmission and reception process, the busy tone is
transmitted to the telephone set side. As described before, a high note alarm tone may
be transmitted instead of the busy tone.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
Immediately after one of the users finishes the communication and on-hook the receiver,
the PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit maintains the connection on the PSTN
line, and while an IP address corresponding to the identification information of the
telephone set is transmitted from the communication information transmitting side to
the destination for transmitting the communication information via the PSTN line, if
either one of the users off-hooks the receiver again to use the telephone set, this user is
alarmed that the transmission process is still in progress that the telephone cannot be
used yet. Transmitting a busy tone from the telephone equipment adapter of the user
to the telephone set alarms the user.
-
In the above example, the telephone cannot be used while the IP address
transmission and reception processes are in progress. However, the telephone
equipment adapter is capable of accepting the telephone number input from the
telephone set. Instead of sending the busy tone, the telephone number input is
accepted in a normal manner, and the telephone identification information of the
telephone number is stored, and after finishing the IP address transmission and
reception process, the telephone call is made as usual. Since the IP address
transmission and reception process does not take too much time, and it is very likely
that the process would be complete while the user is inputting the telephone number.
By doing so, the user can make another telephone call immediately after finishing the
communication, without having to wait for the completion of the IP address
transmission and reception process.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
Immediately after one of the users finishes the communication and on-hook the receiver,
the PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit maintains the connection on the PSTN
line, and while an IP address corresponding to the identification information of the
telephone set is transmitted from the communication information transmitting side to
the destination for transmitting the communication information via the PSTN line, if
either one of the users off-hooks the receiver again to use the telephone set, the
identification information of the destination telephone set input by the user is accepted
and stored, and after the completion of the IP address transmission and reception
process, the communication process using the inputted identification information starts.
-
The registration process of registering the IP address to the IP address table is so far
described. Next, we shall describe the method of erasing the registered destination IP
address to suit the convenience of the users. We have already discussed the necessity
of not registering the destination IP address in the Embodiment 13. Under these
circumstances, set up is made so that the IP address is not registered autonomously.
After a specific communication, if a user thinks that future communication with this
destination is not likely, such as a claim call, a wrong numbered call, an inquiry call, or
a questionnaire call etc, then immediately after the communication, the IP address
registration is cancelled. In order to implement this function, after the IP address
transmission and reception processes, the user picks up the receiver, and inputs a
number indicating the registration erasing function along with a specific symbols such
as sharp "#" and asterisk "*" (erase instruction information). Based on this operation,
the PSTN_line_signal_transmitting/receiving_unit 1100 inside the telephone equipment
adapter erases the IP address entry that is just stored via the
telephone_number/IP_address_translation_unit 300. The user can erase the
unnecessary destination IP address registration accordingly.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
After finishing communication by the user, the
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit can erase the IP address information
registration of the destination telephone set acquired from the IP address learning unit in
such cases as an apparent wrong telephone number call.
Embodiment 15
-
In the previously described Embodiment 2, an input of telephone number is
confirmed as shown in step S21 of Fig. 4. In the Embodiment 15, the content of that
process shall be described in detail.
-
The telephone number is an identification information of the telephone set. There
are various digits available in the telephone number. There are several different ways
as to decide whether the input of telephone number by user is finished or not.
Basically, an appropriate time interval between inputting one digit of the telephone
number and the next digit one would be, for example, 0.3 seconds. It is very unlikely
that this time interval to exceed 5 seconds. Therefore, if there is no more input
operation taking place from the user after a certain set up time exceeded, then the input
of the telephone number by the user is determined as finished. This time interval
depends on the habit of the user's telephone number inputting operation; therefore, the
user ideally sets up an appropriate time interval.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
The PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit detects the situation of no input of
word by word successive information after a specific time elapse and decides that the
input of identification number by the user from the destination telephone set is finished.
-
In the above example, the waiting time until the input is finished is set to 5 seconds.
Some users may not like this waiting time. Henceforth, such users may adapt a
method of inputting a pre-determined information after finishing the input of the last
digit of the telephone number for notifying the input completion to the telephone
equipment adapter. The pre-determined information is configured by words such as
sharp "#" and asterisk "*". This is input as finishing information. Of course,
together with the method of inputting the finishing information, an automatic decision
after set time is also possible. On the other hand, as for the internal telephone inside a
company where the digit size of telephone number is fixed to 4 digits, the completion of
telephone number input is automatically decided by inputting "9" before inputting the
telephone-number which notifies that it is internal telephone number.
-
This fact is also described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
The PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit detects the situation of no input of
word by word successive information after a specific time elapse and decides that
detecting the specific word input last finishes the input of identification number of the
destination telephone set.
-
Further, in regard to the telephone numbering system, the communication enterprise
information is determined for each communication enterprise (telephone service
company). Such communication enterprise information (for example, 090 for cellular
phones) input can be used to implement the method of confirming the following
telephone number digits (that is, the size of the telephone number).
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
The user inputs the identification information of the destination telephone set. The
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit decides the input completion and confirms
the input of the upper identification information (communication enterprise
information) for specifying the telephone company. The digit number (size) of the
identification information is determined based on the upper identification information of
the numbering system of various telephone companies. By counting the number of
words being inputted, the completion of input is detected.
-
Hereinbelow, the upper identification number for various telephone companies is
described. The company name of the telephone company is abbreviated.
· upper identification information
-
In using the communication enterprise other than NTT from the NTT subscribed
telephone, the first 3 to 4 digits is dialed. After the spring of 2001, the "telephone
priority connection system" is endorsed. This is a communication without having to
dial the 3 to 4 digits identification number by previously registering the communication
enterprise for the everyday use. Accompanied by the reorganization of the NTT, both
NTT East Japan and NTT West Japan were granted with this identification number from
the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication in August 1999.
-
The drawing of Fig. 40 shows the upper identification information for various
telephone services companies (communication enterprises). However, the names of
telephone service companies (communication enterprise) mentioned in Fig. 40 are
abbreviated.
-
On the other hand, after step S21 of Fig. 4 for the Embodiment 4, according to the
inputted telephone number, the address translation table is being referred in step S22.
This referring process may be executed after completing the input of all the telephone
number information. Alternatively, the referring process can take the method of
narrowing down the candidates of the IP address table entries digit by digit every time
one digit of the telephone number is input from the top.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
Every time 1 word of the identification information is input from the destination
telephone set after having determined the completion of input from the telephone set,
the designation identifying unit maintains the translating process by the address
translation unit.
-
As described previously, when the IP address table entries are being searched for 1
digit input of the telephone number, even before commencing the entry searching by
using all the digits, there are cases when only 1 address information candidate is
remaining. Under such circumstances, when come to a point of no more address
information candidate available, the IP address translation process finishes. This way,
the process is implemented rapidly.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
Every time 1 word of the identification information is input from the destination
telephone set after having determined the completion of input from the telephone set,
the designation identifying unit restricts those address information candidates that have
possibility of translating by the translation process of the address translation unit.
When the selection is narrow down to 1, that address information candidate is adapted
as a final translated result without waiting for input of the whole identification
information.
-
In addition to that, in confirming the telephone number per 1 digit by 1 digit entry, if
the configuration is structured in such a way that the IP address table entry candidate
cannot narrow down, then the whole digits of telephone number is used for the search.
The intermediate situation of both cases, for example, if 8 digits telephone number is
input; the IP address table entry is searched. This is based on the assumption that a
search process may be a successful if 8 digits search result match, in advance reading
search. There is much suitable number of digits for advance reading other than 8
digits. If making many internal calls using 4 digits internal telephone number, the
search process is executed once after 4-digit input. In total, a rapid determining
process is implemented. In addition to that, the advance reading of the search process,
if a plurality of candidates is remaining, search is executed to the telephone number
added again; an accurate search process is implemented.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
Every time 1 word of the identification information is input from the destination
telephone set after having determined the completion of input from the-telephone set,
the designation identifying unit restricts those address information candidates that have
possibility of translating by the translation process of the address translation unit.
When the selection is narrow down to 1 after the identification information is input by a
specific number of digits, that address information candidate is adapted as a final
translated result without waiting for input of the whole identification information.
Embodiment 16
-
In this embodiment, the process when the telephone equipment adapter is connected
to the communication device managing device such as PBX or button type telephone
device is described in detail.
-
The drawing of Fig. 41 shows a plurality of telephone line connections in use by
using a typical PBX or button type telephone device. When making a telephone call
from a communication device (i.e., telephone set) to an outside area beyond the PBX
190, the communication process is no different from the case of direct connection of the
pre-existing telephone set. The telephone number information inputted to the
telephone set upon making a call is transmitted to the exchanger of the telephone center,
and the exchanger creates a connection to the communication destination. On the
other hand, as in Fig. 41, if a telephone call is made from a telephone set outside of the
PBX 190, there is a need for selecting a specific telephone set inside the PBX.
Therefore, an exchanger 192 must transmits a lower digit information of the telephone
number for identifying a plurality of telephone sets 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d that are
supported by the PBX. The transmission and reception method of information
between the PBX 190 and the exchanger 192 is pre-arranged by the telephone company.
-
The drawing of Fig. 42 shows a plurality of telephone line connection in use by
using a telephone managing device connected to the telephone equipment adapter.
-
In order for the telephone equipment adapter 22 to support the connection
configuration with the telephone managing device such as PBX and button type
telephone, if a telephone set from outside of the PBX 190 is making a call. Then the
lower digit information of the telephone number received from the exchanger 192 must
be transmitted to the telephone managing device. This is being performed by the
actual telephone managing device. The transmission and reception method between
the telephone equipment adapter 22 and the telephone managing device of PBX 190 is
identical to the method adapted between the exchanger 192 and the PBX 190. In
regard to the transmission and reception method of the lower digit information of this
telephone number, various telephone companies disclose the detailed procedures.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
When the telephone managing device such as PBX or button type telephone is
connected in between the telephone sets, and if the telephone equipment adapter makes
a telephone call via the IP network or the PSTN line, the
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit of the telephone equipment adapter
transmits an identification information for identifying a specific telephone set among
from the plurality of telephone sets connected to the telephone managing device. This
way, the telephone set for communication is specified.
-
In addition to the transmission and reception processes taking place between an
exchanger of the telephone company and a typical telephone set, in order to provide a
special service using the device such as PBX, the transmission and reception processes
are also available for implementing that service. Other than the support service by the
PBX, there is a service related to the number display. This function displays the
communication destination's telephone number to the display unit of the its own
telephone set. The telephone number information is transmitted and received between
the exchanger and the telephone set. Basically, the exchanger transmits the telephone
number information to a telephone set of the call receiving side. In order to implement
this concept to the internet telephone network system of the present invention, the
telephone equipment adapter temporarily connected to the telephone set call receiving
side accumulates the telephone number information transmitted from the exchanger, and
transmits that telephone number information to the telephone set in the similar manner
as the transmission and reception method to the exchanger.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
When the telephone equipment adapter has an arrangement for the number display
function in regard to the communication service on the PSTN line, then the
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit transmits the identification information for
identifying the communication destination telephone set if a call is being made from the
telephone equipment adapter via the IP network or the PSTN line. By doing so, the
identification number of the communication destination is displayed in the display unit
of the telephone equipment adapter.
-
The service described above is a service of the exchanger on the PSTN line. In
order to support and implement the same function also on the IP network, the telephone
equipment adapter of the calling side can transmit its telephone number information to
the telephone equipment adapter of the call receiving side.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
When the telephone equipment adapter has an arrangement for the number display
function in regard to the communication service on the PSTN line, then the
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit transmits the identification information for
identifying the communication destination telephone set if a call is being made from the
telephone equipment adapter via the IP network. By doing so, the identification
number of the communication destination is displayed in the display unit of the
telephone equipment adapter.
-
In addition to that, in regard to the number display function, by inputting a special
number digits at the head of the telephone number (non-notification information such as
184), the transmission of the telephone number information to the communication
destination can be refused. The telephone equipment adapter of the call making side
via the PSTN line need only input the telephone number including the special number
digit to the exchanger as it is such that a special communication process is unnecessary.
The call receiving side of the telephone equipment adapter must mediate the refusal
communication process requiring the telephone number information between the
exchanger and the telephone set. In addition to that, when making a call via the IP
network, when the special number digit input is confirmed, the telephone number
information is not transmitted to the telephone equipment adapter of call receiving side.
In addition to that, the telephone equipment adapter of call receiving side must refuse
the transmission of the telephone number information to the telephone equipment
adapter in the similar manner as the communication process of the exchanger.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
When the telephone equipment adapter has an arrangement for the number display
function in regard to the communication service on the PSTN line, then the
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit transmits the identification information for
identifying the communication destination telephone set if a call is being made from the
telephone equipment adapter via the IP network. If it did not attach the number digit
for refusing the notification of the telephone number, by not transmitting it to the
communication destination telephone equipment adapter, able to control the display of
identification number of own telephone set to the display unit of the destination
telephone equipment adapter.
-
As regard to the services of the number display function, communication process
method procedures between the exchanger of telephone company and the telephone are
disclosed. In accordance to that procedure, the number display function is
implemented to the telephone equipment adapter.
Embodiment 17
-
According to the maintenance-set up function described in the Embodiment 4, the
user can set up a particular control information to the configuration data storing unit.
If there is an error in that set up, the telephone equipment adapter cannot operate
properly. For example, if a net mask or the IP address of the telephone equipment
adapter is wrong, then all the processes of accessing to the IP network will fail.
Therefore, if an apparent error in the set up value for executing the process of telephone
equipment adapter is detected, the user is notified of the error in that set up value.
Example of the notification includes: displaying of alarm display lamp or display screen
to the telephone equipment adapter; and transmitting an alarm tone indicating error in
the set up when the user picks up the receiver upon using the communication device
connected.
-
This fact is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
When a user sets up the telephone equipment adapter by using the
IP_network_data_reading/writing_unit or the telephone_input_data_writing_unit, and if
an error is detected in that set up upon executing the whole communication processes so
that the communication process cannot be executed properly, then the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit or the
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit display alarm to the display unit of the
telephone equipment adapter or transmit an alarm noise to the connected telephone set,
and guides the user to correct the mistake in that set up.
-
In the internet telephone network system described above, a wrong set up of the IP
address is given as an example. However, as regard to the IP network access, the user
is alarmed in the similar manner if the IP network access is not executed due to other
causes such as a failure in the connected router or cut-off in the IP network.
-
In the internet telephone network system described above, when a user sets up the
telephone equipment adapter by using the IP_network_data_reading/writing_unit or the
telephone_input_data_writing_unit, and if an error is detected in that set up upon
executing the whole communication process but still the communication procesess are
executed, but if the IP network or the PSTN line connected to the telephone equipment
adapter is cut-off or the IP network device is broken or not operating, then the
IP_network_communication_processing_unit or the
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit display alarm to the display unit of the
telephone equipment adapter or transmit an alarm noise to the connected telephone set,
and notifies the user of the abnormality in the peripheral devices.
-
Henceforth, in regard to the alarm function described above, if the broken router is
restored, or if the IP network which was being cut-off is restored, a normal IP network
access is re-started, therefore, by stopping the conventional alarm process and starting
the normal process, the user does not have to go through the trouble of releasing the
alarm function.
-
In the internet telephone network system described above, when a user the set
telephone equipment adapter by using the IP_network_data_reading/writing_unit or the
telephone_input_data_writing_unit, and if an error is detected in that set up upon
executing the whole communication processes but still the communication process is
executed, but if the IP network or the PSTN line connected to the telephone equipment
adapter is cut-off or the IP network device is broken or not operating. If able to get out
of that situation by the restoration process of peripheral devices, the user is notified of
the restoration of abnormality in the peripheral devices by not transmitting the alarm
noise to the connected telephone set or by stopping the alarm display by the display unit
of the telephone equipment adapter.
Embodiment 18
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In the previously described Embodiment 8, the POST message is described as a
message to transmit the voice data to the HTTP relay server. Other than the POST
message, others message such as GET and PUT messages may be used. However, the
GET message must be incorporated into the field known as URL, therefore, it basically
has a limit in the data size. The POST and PUT messages can carry the main data
body as well as the various fields called headers, therefore, they basically have no limit
in the data size. Exception is the restriction in the implementation of HTTP proxy.
-
In addition to that, in obtaining the voice data using the GET message from the
HTTP relay server, the sliced voice data can repeatedly be obtained by issuing the GET
message. Alternatively, the GET message obtains the second size data which is
sufficiently larger than the first size voice data of communication time. The GET
message only has to be issued once to obtain the voice data. At this point, it is
possible to obtain the first size sliced voice data repeatedly.
-
According to the HTTP method, the transmission and reception processes of the
message are executed after the client side and the server side is connected. Basically,
generation of this connection takes time, therefore, once the connection is established,
in order to improve the performance of the voice data transmission and reception
processes in real time, it would be ideal to keep that connection as much as possible.
However, in most of the cases, there are network node such as HTTP proxy existing in
between the client side and the server side, therefore, depending on the relay situation,
the connection may be disconnected without concerning the conveniences of the client
side and the server side. Under such circumstances, establishing a new connection
restarts the voice data transmission and reception processes.
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In addition to the HTTP method, the communication on the IP network using the
TCP is being conducted at the telephone equipment adapter and the HTTP relay server.
The TCP is a connection type communication protocol. The connection must be
established before transmitting and receiving data. When using the communication
process by this TCP, for some reason on the IP network, if a data is still held for a long
period of time, or if the connection is disconnected, the program process is stopped.
The following measures are taken to avoid the system hangout. A certain timeout
value is set to all the data transmission and reception processes. If there is no response
from the communication destination and if the timeout value is exceeded during the
reply waiting process from the destination, then the connection is newly established.
The IP network access process is re-started from the beginning.
-
This is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems. The
telephone equipment adapter connects to the HTTP communication processing unit of
the relay server for transmitting the voice data packet. After connection, the voice data
is stored in the GET, POST, PUT messages in the encode format for transmission. The
GET, POST, PUT messages are prescribed by the HTTP.
-
This is also described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
The telephone equipment adapter connects to the HTTP communication processing unit
of the relay server for receiving the voice data packet. After connection, the voice data
is stored in the GET method reply message in the encode format for reception. The
GET method message is prescribed by the HTTP.
-
This is also described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
The telephone equipment adapter connects to the HTTP communication processing unit
of the relay server for receiving the voice data packet. After connection, data size
larger than the size of voice transmission reception data such as in telephone
conversation is obtained by the GET method message prescribed by HTTP, and the
voice data is stored in the reply message data itself in an encode format. Every time
the voice data is generated, that voice data is continuously received as segments.
-
This is also described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
The telephone equipment adapter connects to the HTTP communication processing unit
of the relay server for transmitting and receiving the voice data packet. After
connection, various method messages or their reply messages are transmitted and
received, and after having done that the connection is not immediately disconnected but
the connection is maintained to transmit and receive various method messages or their
reply messages.
-
This is also described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
The telephone equipment adapter connects to the HTTP communication processing unit
of the relay server for transmitting and receiving the voice data packet. After
connection, while the various method messages and their replay messages are being
transmitted and received, or immediately after being transmitted and received, if the
connection is disconnected for one reason or the other, the connection is re-established,
and the new connection is maintained to transmit and receive various method messages
or their reply messages.
-
This is also described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
The telephone equipment adapter connects to the HTTP communication processing unit
of the relay server for transmitting and receiving the voice data packet. After
connection, while the various method messages and their replay messages are being
transmitted and received, or immediately after being transmitted and received, if no
response of the HTTP or TCP transmission and reception processes after a certain
period of set time is elapsed, the connection is disconnected, and then re-connected, and
the new connection is maintained to transmit and receive various method messages and
their reply messages.
Embodiment 19
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According to the previously described Embodiment 8, the
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit 8200 accesses the management area
of the communication destination, and checks whether it is in the communication mode
or not in step S75 (refer to Fig. 34). In the Embodiment 19, an identifier which is the
communication connection identification information is given to the communication
itself, (hereinafter the identifier shall be referred to as session ID), upon making a
telephone call by using HTTP method, at a point of inquiring whether or not the
telephone call can be made to the HTTP relay server, when the telephone call can be
made, the HTTP relay server attaches the session ID to the communication, and
confirms that the telephone call can be made. Basically, the session ID is created by
the counter incrementally.
-
Based on this session ID, the HTTP relay server manages information related to the
communication. The telephone equipment adapter of the user side obtains this session
ID as a communication approval. This way, the voice data transmitted and received to
the HTTP relay server is distinguished from the other communication while referring to
the session ID. In the HTTP relay server, the following log information are recorded
and managed: the session ID, the information related to communication such as
identification information of communication device of both sides, the IP address
information, duration of communication, communication starting time, and
communication finishing time. Accounting is taken care of based on these
management informations.
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This is described in one example of the internet telephone network systems. The
relay server manages a session information that is a collection of address information of
the telephone equipment adapters of both users as a communication connection
identification information. The communication connection identification information
is stored inside the voice data packet and is transmitted via the IP network.
-
This is also described in one example of the internet telephone network systems.
The relay server manages session information that is a collection of address information
of the telephone equipment adapters of both users as a communication connection
identification information. Every time the communication takes place between the
users, the communication duration, and the amount of communication packets are
memorized and extracted as log information.
Embodiment 20
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The Embodiment 20 describes the telephone equipment adapter having a process
method of notifying the communication in progress mode to a third individual while the
communication is taking place using the three methods of the communication via the
PSTN line, the communication using UDP via the IP network, and the communication
using HTTP via the IP network. The third individual is making a call using other
method.
-
We have already explained the communication process where the three methods of
PSTN line, UDP and HTTP coexists in the Embodiment 6. In addition to that, the
procedure of making a telephone call using the method of HTTP is described in the
Embodiment 8. In the Embodiment 20, as the procedure of making this telephone call,
the telephone calling method using SMTP mail (which stands for Simple Mail Transfer
Protocol) is described.
-
While communication is taking place using the three methods mentioned above,
when there is an incoming call from a third individual, there are 9 different patterns as
shown in the drawing of Fig. 43.
-
As illustrated in Fig. 43, a basic process of notifying the communication in progress
mode is outputting a busy tone to the telephone set of the third individual. If the
incoming call from the third individual is via the PSTN line, then other than
transmitting a busy tone directly from the exchanger-of the telephone company, the
telephone equipment adapter in which the call is being made to creates the busy tone
and transmit it via the PSTN line. However, in the latter case, such a simple
notification of communication in progress mode involves the payment of telephone bill
to the telephone company since it enters the communication mode. If the telephone
call is made using UDP from the third individual, the telephone equipment adapter
which the call is being made to reports the communication in progress mode such that
the telephone equipment adapter itself of the third individual creates the busy tone
which can be heard by the user. As for the telephone call is made using HTTP from
the third individual, if detected the communication in progress mode by inquiring to the
HTTP relay server, the telephone equipment adapter of the third individual itself creates
the busy tone so that it can be heard by the user.
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Based on these methods, even if three kinds of telephone communication methods
coexist, it is still possible to report communication in progress mode to the telephone
call made from the third individual. However, in order to simplify the internal design
of the telephone equipment adapter, it is possible to skip reporting of the
communication in progress mode. In this case, even if the third individual makes a
telephone call, s/he may perceive that the destination does not answer the telephone for
a very long time, such that this may be perceived strange as compared to the pre-existing
telephone being used.
-
This fact explains one example of the internet telephone network systems that
adapts the PSTN line communication, the RTP communication process, and the HTTP
communication process. When a third user makes a telephone call using either one of
the three communication methods mentioned above while the communication is taking
place using either one of the three methods mentioned above. The
IP_network_communication_processing_unit or the
PSTN_line_communication_processing_unit transmits a busy tone to the telephone set
of the third user and notifies the communication in progress mode.
Industrial Applicability
-
Accordingly, in the above embodiments which described one example of the internet
telephone network system of the present invention have the following effects.
-
A telephone call is made via the IP network when communication via the IP
network is possible. The telephone call is made via the PSTN line when
communication via the IP network is not possible. The communication via the IP
network is not possible at the following circumstances. The telephone number cannot
be converted to IP address. The destination telephone-equipment is not connected to
the IP network. A telephone equipment adapter connected to the destination telephone
set is not interchangeable to the telephone equipment adapter of call making side.
-
In addition to that, the conventional telephone number can be used as it is to make a
telephone call via the IP network.
-
In addition to that, if the incoming communication information from the IP network
is received as a digital voice data, it is transmitted to the telephone equipment as an
analog voice data.
-
In addition to that, if the outgoing communication information from the telephone
equipment is received as an analog voice data, it is converted to a digital voice data and
transmitted to the IP network.
-
In addition to that, if the destination telephone set can transmit or receive the
outgoing or incoming communication information via the IP network, and then the
telephone call is made via the IP network. Otherwise, if not possible via the IP
network, the telephone call is made via the PSTN line. Connections are automatically
switched. Responding to the needs, the user can transmit and receive the outgoing and
incoming communication information via the IP network or via the PSTN line.
-
In addition to that, a telephone number of the telephone set and an IP address
mapped to the telephone number are notified to the destination telephone number after
finishing the communication via the PSTN line. The user doesn't have to look up for
the IP address of the destination. The user doesn't need to set it up in the address
translation table.
-
In addition to that, the telephone number of conventional general PSTN line and the
IP address are mapped and memorized. This way, the telephone call is automatically
made via the IP network from the next call onwards.
-
In addition to that, more than two voices other than your own one received from the
other telephone sets connected to the telephone equipment adapter of the present
invention via the IP network are mixed, and the mixed voices are output. The tele-conference
among more than three individuals via the IP network is possible.
-
In addition to that, the tele-conference identification number is set to the tele-conference.
The user requesting to join the tele-conference must indicate this tele-conference
identification number. This way, the tele-conference is carried out among
the specified telephone sets via the IP network.
-
In addition to that, the telephone identification number is set to the telephone
equipment connected to the telephone equipment adapter. The user requesting to join
the tele-conference must indicate this telephone identification number. This way, the
tele-conference is carried out among the specified telephone equipment via the IP
network.
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In addition to that, the password is previously allocated to each user who is going to
participate in the tele-conference. The passwords are managed for each tele-conference.
The user inputs the password upon participating to the tele-conference.
This way, the inputted password is compared and referred to the previously registered
passwords. The participation to the tele-conference is therefore verified.
-
In addition to that, a control information is input from the existing telephone set or a
general-purpose personal computer connected to the telephone equipment adapter for
carrying out the maintenance operations. The configuration data stored in the
configuration_data_storing_unit is changed according to the inputted control
information. An extra cost incurred in attaching the I/O data device to the telephone
equipment adapter, especially used for the maintenance operation, is deduced. In
addition to that, the user utilizes the conventional devices (such as existing telephone set
or the general-purpose personal computer) to simply carry out the maintenance
operation.
-
In addition to that, the permission information related to the tele-conference is input
from the personal computer connected to the IP network or from the telephone set
connected to the telephone equipment adapter, and is registered. Registration changes
and deletions are easily carried out.
-
In addition to that, UDP and RTP are used having an excellent real-time property in
the communication process. The communication voice quality is improved.
-
In addition to that, the firewall that does not allow the use of arbitrary UDP port is
set so that the firewall can use a limited and specific UDP port. That specific UDP
port number is stored in the telephone equipment adapter. The voice data
communication processing beyond the firewall is possible.
-
In addition to that, in complying with the firewall that does not allow the use of
arbitrary UDP port, a usable UDP port is scanned. The unknown usable UDP port is
searched. The voice data communication processing is possible after finding the
usable UDP port.
-
In addition to that, most firewall cannot use the UDP port; however, the HTTP port
is normally open. The voice data is transmitted as HTTP message. This way, the
communication process is implemented via the IP network despite of the firewall.
-
In addition to that, the voice data is transmitted and received by using TCP when a
telephone call is made from the telephone equipment adapter via the IP network.
-
In addition to that, the voice data is transmitted and received by using HTTP when a
telephone call is made from the telephone equipment adapter via the IP network.
-
In addition to that, the firewall plays a role of the security preventing the illegal
access to the outside IP network from the IP network managed and connected to the
telephone equipment adapter. The firewall is installed at the IP network boundary. In
the case of making a telephone call by the telephone equipment adapter via the IP
network, to comply with the firewall, an availability of HTTP port that can transmit and
receive data is searched. The HTTP port that can transmit and receive data is specified.
This HTTP port is used to carry out communication of the voice data.
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In addition to that, the header of the voice data packet for communication is
individually compressed. This way, the voice data packet can be made smaller than
the standard packet size. This reduces the network traffic. In addition to that, the
compressed voice data packet can be decoded. The compressed packet information is
received. This also reduces the network traffic.
-
In addition to that, even if there is a fluctuation in the transmission times of voice
data packets for communication, the voice data packets are accumulated until they reach
a certain size, and then they are transmitted to the analog regeneration side. The stable
communication quality is maintained even if the network traffic condition is unstable.
In addition to that, in order to transmit the digital voice data packet to the destination
telephone set via the IP network, an outgoing digital voice data packet is created. The
outgoing digital voice data packets are accumulated in the transmission buffer unit.
The transmission buffer unit can change its buffer size. Before transmitting the
accumulated digital voice data packets, the transmission buffer unit executes a process
of adding only the necessary data to the compiled packets. This process is carried out
by the transmission buffer unit. Reflecting on the network traffic conditions, the
optimal digital voice data packet is transmitted. Good quality voice data is effectively
transmitted.
-
In addition to that, when each of voice data packets for communication is
transmitted, a packet size is changed small size if the network traffic is small, large size
if the network traffic is large. This way, the stable communication quality is
maintained, and the network traffic does not receive an influence, even if the network
traffic condition is not stable.
-
In addition to that, the redundant packet is issued when the packet loss of the
outgoing voice data occurred. A stable communication quality is maintained even in
the network traffic condition where the packet loss is frequent.
-
In addition to that, when there's too much network traffic to transmit the voice data
packet, the voice data packets below a certain the level that does not influence the
communication quality is not transmitted. This way, the stable communication quality
is maintained.
-
In addition to that, the network traffic condition is estimated. Timings of receiving
the voice data packets are measured. The receiving buffer size is adjusted. The
redundant_packet_issuing_unit adjusts the number of replicating packet information.
The packet_generation_filtering_unit adjusts a condition for deleting the number of
outgoing packet information. At least one of the three adjusting is done. The optimal
communication processing is implemented by responding to the updated network traffic.
The stable communication quality is maintained.
-
In addition to that, the timings of receiving voice data packets are measured, and the
measured results are accumulated so that it can be referred to as a data indicating
network traffic condition at a day cycle or a weekly cycle. The optimal
communication processing is controlled based on the averaged network traffic condition.
The stable communication quality is maintained.
-
In addition to that, the telephone equipment adapter can make a telephone call and
can execute the communication processing via the HTTP relay server. The firewall
can make access to the outside network by using HTTP. For this reason, there is no
need to modify the setup of typical firewall to make a telephone call via the IP network.
In addition to that, the voice data is temporarily stored in the HTTP relay server, and the
telephone equipment adapter connected to other telephone set go and get that voice data.
The effective communication processing is implemented. In addition to that, the
destination telephone equipment adapter is protected by the firewall. The HTTP
polling unit of the HTTP relay server reports to the communication destination
telephone equipment adapter that the telephone call is being made. This is done so by
the HTTP polling unit of the HTTP relay server that periodically checks the
communication situation of the telephone_set_call_information_managing_unit of the
destination telephone equipment adapter. The communication mode of the telephone
set is being stored in the telephone_set_call_information_managing_unit. At a point
of detecting that the telephone call is being made, the destination telephone equipment
adapter accesses the HTTP relay server by using HTTP. In addition to that, if the
destination telephone equipment adapter is protected by the firewall, in order to report
to the destination telephone equipment adapter that the telephone call is being made, the
PSTN_signal_processing_unit transmits only the telephone call information
temporarily via the PSTN line. Then, the telephone equipment adapters communicate
via the HTTP relay server by HTTP access, and exchange the communication
information via the HTTP relay server.
-
In addition to that, the HTTP relay server negotiates the first connection between the
telephone equipment adapters. After the first negotiation process, the
HTTP_connection_changing_unit in the HTTP relay server changes the HTTP and TCP
connection so that the connection between the telephone equipment adapters is direct.
The communication data are transmitted and received after the first negotiation process
between the telephone equipment adapters. However, the process load is going to be a
heavy burden. The communication data are better of transmitted and received directly
between the telephone equipment adapters without bypassing the HTTP relay server.
The process burden put on the HTTP relay server is lightened. Owing to this fact,
even if the communication processes concentrate because many users are making
telephone calls at one time, the processes can continue without being stagnant. The
communication quality is maintained.
-
In addition to that, the communication data is transmitted and received directly
between the telephone equipment adapters without bypassing the HTTP relay server.
For this reason, the process burden put on the HTTP relay server is lightened. Despite
of the concentrated communication processes by many users making telephone calls,
without being stagnant the process continues. The communication quality is
maintained.
-
In addition to that, as a process of the HTTP relay server, an IP address contained in
the IP header of the voice data packet is directly converted to the IP address of the final
transmission destination telephone equipment adapter. The TCP header port number
contained in the IP header of the voice data packet is likewise directly converted to the
port number of the destination telephone equipment adapter. Owing to this, the
process burden put on the HTTP relay server is lightened. Despite of the concentrated
communication processes by many users making telephone calls, without being stagnant
the process continues. The communication quality is maintained.
-
In addition to that, even though the HTTP relay server tries to carry out the
communication process efficiently, if a number of telephone equipment adapters
requesting for the communication process has increased accompanied by the increased
number of users, since there is a performance limit that a single HTTP relay server
possesses, it will fail at some point. Therefore, a plurality of HTTP relay servers is
prepared. The HTTP_relay_server_managmg_server for integrating and managing the
plurality of HTTP relay servers is prepared. The
HTTP_relay_server_managing_server finds the HTTP relay server having a small
number of users and specifies the candidate HTTP relay server to be used for the
communication process. A favorable communication is maintained for the various
users by dispersing the communication processes of various telephone equipment
adapters to the plurality of HTTP relay servers.
-
In addition to that, the name of telephone equipment adapter is used as an identifier
of the telephone equipment adapter. The identifiers are seized between the telephone
equipment adapters prior to transmitting and receiving the communication data.
Because of this, the telephone equipment adapter can be adapted in a network
configuration where the IP address is not fixed and is dynamically provided. The case
in which the IP address is dynamically allocated is a learning of the IP address from the
DHCP server. Another such case is when the IP address is allocated upon dial up
connection from the telephone equipment adapter to the internet service provider (ISP).
As in those cases when the fixed IP address is not allocated, the negotiation process for
connecting from a telephone equipment adapter to its communication destination is
effectively implemented.
-
In addition to that, instead of the network environment using the dedicated line
connection to the IP network, the internet telephone can also be used by dial up
connection. The dial up connection connects the IP network by dialing to the internet
service provider (ISP). In other words, the user no longer needs to make contract for
the dedicated line connection configuration to use the internet telephone at home.
Using the dial up connection easily uses the internet telephone at home.
-
In addition to that, instead of the network environment using the dedicated line
connection to the IP network, the internet telephone can also be used by dial up
connection. The dial up connection connects to the IP network by dialing to the
internet service provider (ISP). The terminal adapter used by the personal computer is
used as a device to carry out this dial up connection. The modem, etc. is built in the
terminal adapter. The modem is for communicating to the PSTN and ISDN. Serial
port RS232C is attached to the telephone equipment adapter. This process device is
easily implemented. A comparably costly device is entrusted to the terminal adapter
side. The actual cost incurred in the telephone equipment adapter is deduced this way.
-
In addition to that, the telephone equipment adapter keeps the PSTN line connection
even after both users put the receivers back upon finishing communication to allow for
the exchange of the IP address information.
-
In addition to that, when the communication is finished and the communication
information transmitting side puts the receiver back, a tone signal notifies the
disconnection to the destination of transmitting the communication information. The
tone signal is generated after a pre-determined time. This way, after finishing the
communication and both receivers are put back, the telephone equipment adapter holds
on the PSTN connection, and the IP addresses are definitely exchanged.
-
In addition to that, a sound such as busy tone is generated for notifying the
communication completion to the destination of transmitting the communication
information. This way, the destination user will definitely know that the
communication is finished. Then, the user puts the receiver back.
-
In addition to that, when a user tries to use the telephone set again while the IP
addresses are still in the process of being exchanged, the user hears a busy tone at the
receiver. The telephone set cannot be used while the IP addresses are being
exchanged.
-
In addition to that, when a user tries to use the telephone set again while the IP
addresses are still in the process of being exchanged, the identification information of
the destination input by the user is accepted. After the IP address information
exchange process is finished, the accepted destination identification information is
connected. The IP address exchange process does not take so much minutes times
such that the user trying to make a telephone call does not have to wait to re-use the
telephone set. This is convenient for the user.
-
In addition to that, the identification information input is determined as complete
after a certain time period of no input. This way, the user can omit inputting of
information that indicates input completion of the identification information. This is
convenient for the user.
-
In addition to that, the identification information input is determined as complete by
inputting a specific information. This way, the input completion is definitely
determined. The identification information is accurately input.
-
In addition to that, the identification information input is determined as complete by
comparing the size of specified identification information and the size of identification
information being input. The communication enterprise information specifies the size
of identification information. This way, the user can input the identification
information using the conventional method. The identification information input
completion is definite. This improves on the convenience.
-
In addition to that, the address translation unit carries out the address translation
processing after the identification information input is fully complete. This way, the IP
address information is accurate. The reliability of the internet telephone network
system is increased.
-
In addition to that, the address translation unit narrows down the candidate
identification information every time 1 word of the identification information is entered.
This way, the identification information is converted to IP address at a speed.
-
In addition to that, the address translation unit finishes the process when the
candidate identification information has narrow down to the last 1. This way, the
identification information is converted to IP address at a speed.
-
In addition to that, if the number of word information comprising the identification
information inputted exceeds a pre-determined number, the address translation unit
converts that word information to IP address information. This way, without having to
wait for the whole input of the identification information, the information is translated
to IP address such that process can be carried out at a speed.
-
In addition to that, the learning process by the IP_address_learning_unit is executed
at both telephone sets of the call making side and receiving side. This way, the
identification information and IP address are automatically learned. The internet
telephone network system highly convenient is supplied to the users.
-
In addition to that, the learning process by the IP_address_learning_unit may not
executed when receiving a telephone call. This way, when a salesman makes a
telephone call to the customers, the identification information and ID address of the call
making side is not registered. This prevents from unnecessary use of memory area of
the address translation table.
-
In addition to that, when the telephone call is being made by the telephone making
side, the telephone making side can cease the learning process in the
IP_address_learning_unit in the destination telephone equipment adapter. Since the
telephone making side can conveniently cease the learning process of the destination,
such that the internet telephone network system convenient for the user is supplied.
-
In addition to that, the user can erase the information registered in the address
translation table. This way, the memory area of the address translation table can
effectively be used.
-
In addition to that, the user is notified that the telephone equipment adapter is not
operating normally when the control information is being corrected due to an error of
some kind. The user that has received this notification can immediately correct the
control information. This way, the internet telephone network system convenient for
the users is supplied.
-
In addition to that, the user is notified that the communication is unable due to
failure in the lines. This way, the user will immediately know that the communication
is not possible.
-
In addition to that, the user is notified when the telephone set changes from the
unusable mode to the usable mode. This way, the user will immediately know that the
telephone set is in the usable mode. This way, the internet telephone network system
convenient for the user is supplied.
-
In addition to that, when a third individual requests for connection during the
communication which is taking place using one of the following methods, namely; the
PSTN line communication, the RTP communication processing, and the HTTP
communication processing; then the third individual is notified of the communication in
progress mode. This way, the internet telephone network system convenient for the
users is supplied.
-
In addition to that, the relay server attaches a session information to the
communication, for example, the session ID. The session information is included in
the packet information of the outgoing communication information. This way, the
relay server can use the session information inside the packet information to manage the
communication contents.
-
In addition to that, the relay server manages the communication contents using the
session information. This way, the relay server can carry out accounting matters based
on the communication contents being managed there. The internet telephone network
system has many useful aspects.
-
In addition to that, the telephone equipment adapter uses at least one of the methods
from GET, PUT, and POST for HTTP accessing to the relay server. The relay server is
assumed as the Web server. This way, the relay server is accessed.
-
In addition to that, the relay server includes the communication information in the
reply message of the request using the methods. This way, the telephone equipment
adapter can receive the communication information from the relay server. The relay
server is assumed as the Web server. The relay server is accessed.
-
In addition to that, a method of receiving the communication information having a
larger size than the actual communication information is issued, when receiving the
communication information from the telephone equipment adapter by accessing to the
relay server. This way, every time the communication information is generated when
the communication is taking place, the communication information can be received
repeatedly.
-
In addition to that, the connection between the telephone equipment adapter and
relay server is maintained, even after transmitting a message for replying a
communication information and receiving the replied message are finished. This way,
the time taken in connecting the telephone equipment adapter and the relay server is
eliminated. The real-time communication information transmission and reception is
possible.
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In addition to that, the connection between the telephone equipment adapter and
relay server may sometimes be cut-off. In such cases, the connection is re-attempted.
So the user can receive the communication information from the relay server without
being aware of the disconnection.
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In addition to that, if there is no response from the relay server after a pre-determined
time, then the connection is cut-off and then re-connected. This way, the
user without having to be aware of the condition of the relay server can receive
communication information from the relay server.
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In addition to that, the identification information is notified to the
telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit connected the telephone equipment
adapter. This way, the telephone_set_calling_information_managing_unit can specify
a certain telephone set among from the plurality of telephone sets under its
management.
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In addition to that, the telephone equipment adapter notifies the identification
information to the telephone set having a number display function when communicating
via the PSTN line. This way, the telephone set having the number display function can
confirm the identification number of the communication destination.
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In addition to that, the telephone equipment adapter notifies the identification
information to the telephone set having a number display function when communicating
via the IP network. The identification number of the communication destination is
confirmed via the IP network.
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In addition to that, non-notification information is included in the identification
information. The non-notification information indicates non-display of the number.
When the telephone equipment adapter recognizes the non-notification information in
the identification information, the identification information is not notified to the
communication destination. This is convenient for the user.
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The network system is described in the above embodiments. Descriptions
regarding the network accessing method and the telephone set are also included.
Various units mentioned in the above descriptions may be implemented both in the
hardware and software, as well as combination of the two. To implement this on the
software, a program stored in the central processing unit of the computer executes
functions of various units. The program is stored in the storing media such as hard
disk or non-volatile memory, and is executed by reading it from the central processing
unit of the computer.